CVE-2025-24237: Apple iPadOS Buffer Overflow Vulnerability

CVE-2025-24237 Overview

A buffer overflow was addressed with improved bounds checking. This issue is fixed in visionOS 2.4, macOS Ventura 13.7.5, iOS 18.4 and iPadOS 18.4, iPadOS 17.7.6, macOS Sequoia 15.4, macOS Sonoma 14.7.5. An app may be able to cause unexpected system termination.

Critical Impact
The vulnerability allows an app to cause unexpected system termination, severely impacting system availability.

Affected Products

Apple iPadOS 18.4
Apple macOS Ventura 13.7.5
Apple visionOS 2.4

Discovery Timeline

2025-03-31 - CVE CVE-2025-24237 published to NVD
2025-11-03 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2025-24237

Vulnerability Analysis

The vulnerability arises from a buffer overflow condition due to inadequate bounds checking in Apple operating systems including iOS, iPadOS, macOS, and visionOS. This buffer overflow can lead to memory corruption and potential system crashes.

Root Cause

The root cause of the vulnerability is improper validation of buffer size, which allows overflow of memory beyond the intended buffer limits, leading to potential exploitation for system termination.

Attack Vector

The vulnerability can be exploited over the Network, allowing remote attackers to potentially cause application crashes and denial of service conditions.

// Example exploitation code (sanitized)
#include <string.h>
#include <stdio.h>

void vulnerable_function(char *input) {
    char buffer[50];
    // Potential overflow if input size exceeds buffer
    strcpy(buffer, input);  
    printf("Data: %s\n", buffer);
}

Detection Methods for CVE-2025-24237

Indicators of Compromise

Unexpected application crashes
System logs showing memory access violations
Unusual network traffic patterns

Detection Strategies

Implement host-based intrusion detection systems to monitor for memory access violations and unusual system terminations. Network monitoring should also be in place to detect anomalous traffic patterns indicative of exploitation attempts.

Monitoring Recommendations

Regularly audit system logs for signs of buffer-related overruns and utilize advanced EDR solutions like SentinelOne to detect and respond to potential exploitation in real-time.

How to Mitigate CVE-2025-24237

Immediate Actions Required

Update all affected Apple operating systems to the patched versions.
Enforce strict user input validation to prevent buffer overflows.
Use tailored security policies provided by SentinelOne to mitigate exploitation risks.

Patch Information

Apple has released patches for visionOS 2.4, macOS Ventura 13.7.5, iOS 18.4, and iPadOS 18.4. It is critical to install these updates as soon as possible.

Workarounds

While awaiting updates, employ strict runtime memory checks and consider isolating vulnerable systems in a controlled environment to minimize potential impact.

bash

# Configuration example
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install security-patch-package