CVE-2025-31239 is a use-after-free vulnerability affecting Apple tvOS, as well as multiple other Apple operating systems including watchOS, macOS, iPadOS, iOS, visionOS, and macOS Ventura. The vulnerability arises during the parsing of a file, where improper memory management leads to a use-after-free condition. This flaw can cause an application to terminate unexpectedly, resulting in a denial of service (DoS) condition. The issue is classified under CWE-416 (Use After Free), indicating that memory is accessed after it has been freed, which can lead to instability or crashes. Apple has addressed this vulnerability by improving memory management in the affected components. The vulnerability requires local access (AV:L) and low privileges (PR:L) but does not require user interaction (UI:N). The scope is unchanged (S:U), and the impact is limited to availability (A:L) without affecting confidentiality or integrity. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 3.3, indicating a low severity. No known exploits are reported in the wild as of the publication date. The vulnerability affects unspecified versions prior to the patched releases: watchOS 11.5, macOS Sonoma 14.7.6, tvOS 18.5, iPadOS 17.7.7, iOS 18.5, macOS Sequoia 15.5, visionOS 2.5, and macOS Ventura 13.7.6. The primary risk is unexpected app termination, which could disrupt user experience or automated processes relying on the affected applications or services running on these platforms.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2025-31239 is primarily related to availability disruptions on Apple tvOS devices and other Apple platforms. Organizations that rely on Apple ecosystems for media delivery, digital signage, or internal applications on tvOS could experience service interruptions due to unexpected app crashes. Although the vulnerability does not compromise confidentiality or integrity, the denial of service could affect operational continuity, especially in environments where Apple devices are integrated into critical workflows or customer-facing services. The low severity and requirement for local access reduce the likelihood of widespread exploitation; however, organizations with large deployments of Apple devices should consider the risk of service degradation or user disruption. Enterprises using Apple devices in controlled environments (e.g., corporate media rooms, retail displays) may face temporary downtime or require device restarts, impacting productivity or customer experience.

To mitigate CVE-2025-31239, European organizations should promptly apply the security updates provided by Apple for all affected platforms, including tvOS 18.5 and related OS versions. Since the vulnerability requires local access and low privileges, organizations should enforce strict device access controls to prevent unauthorized users from interacting with Apple devices. Implementing mobile device management (MDM) solutions can help ensure timely deployment of patches and monitor device health. Additionally, organizations should audit and restrict file parsing operations on Apple devices to trusted sources only, minimizing exposure to malicious or malformed files that could trigger the vulnerability. Regularly reviewing application crash logs on Apple devices can help detect potential exploitation attempts or stability issues related to this vulnerability. Finally, educating users about the importance of installing updates and avoiding untrusted files can further reduce risk.