CVE-2025-31239 is a use-after-free vulnerability identified in Apple tvOS and other Apple operating systems such as watchOS, macOS, iOS, iPadOS, and visionOS. The vulnerability stems from improper memory management during the parsing of files, which can lead to a use-after-free condition (CWE-416). This flaw allows an attacker to craft a malicious file that, when parsed by an application on the affected system, causes the application to terminate unexpectedly, resulting in a denial-of-service (DoS) condition. The vulnerability does not allow for privilege escalation, data leakage, or code execution, but it impacts the availability of the affected applications. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 4.3 (medium severity), reflecting that the attack vector is network-based (AV:N), requires no privileges (PR:N), but does require user interaction (UI:R). The scope is unchanged (S:U), and the impact is limited to availability (A:L) with no confidentiality or integrity impact. Apple has released patches in tvOS 18.5 and corresponding updates for other platforms to address this issue by improving memory management to prevent the use-after-free condition. No known exploits have been reported in the wild, but the vulnerability could be leveraged in targeted denial-of-service attacks against Apple TV applications or other affected Apple OS environments that parse untrusted files.

For European organizations, the primary impact of CVE-2025-31239 is the potential for denial-of-service conditions on Apple TV devices and other Apple platforms used within their environments. This could disrupt media delivery, digital signage, or other services relying on Apple TV or related devices. While the vulnerability does not compromise data confidentiality or integrity, the unexpected termination of applications could affect business continuity, especially in sectors relying on Apple ecosystems for presentations, customer engagement, or internal communications. Organizations in media, retail, hospitality, and education that deploy Apple TV devices extensively may experience operational disruptions. Additionally, the requirement for user interaction to trigger the vulnerability means phishing or social engineering could be used to induce users to open malicious files, increasing risk in environments with less stringent user awareness training. However, the lack of known exploits and the medium severity rating suggest the threat is moderate but should not be ignored.

European organizations should implement the following specific mitigations: 1) Prioritize patching all affected Apple devices to the latest versions (tvOS 18.5, watchOS 11.5, macOS Sonoma 14.7.6, iOS 18.5, iPadOS 18.5, visionOS 2.5, macOS Ventura 13.7.6) as soon as possible to eliminate the vulnerability. 2) Restrict or monitor the receipt and opening of untrusted files on Apple devices, especially those used in corporate environments, to reduce the risk of triggering the vulnerability via malicious file parsing. 3) Educate users on the risks of opening files from unknown or untrusted sources, emphasizing the potential for denial-of-service impacts. 4) Deploy endpoint protection solutions capable of detecting anomalous application crashes or suspicious file parsing activities on Apple devices. 5) For organizations using Apple TV in critical environments, consider network segmentation or access controls to limit exposure to untrusted networks or users. 6) Monitor vendor advisories and threat intelligence feeds for any emergence of exploits targeting this vulnerability to adjust defenses accordingly.