CVE-2025-24132 Overview
CVE-2025-24132 is a memory handling vulnerability affecting Apple's AirPlay audio and video Software Development Kits (SDKs) and the CarPlay Communication Plug-in. The flaw allows an attacker on the local network to trigger unexpected application termination, resulting in a denial-of-service condition. Apple addressed the issue with improved memory handling in AirPlay audio SDK 2.7.1 and AirPlay video SDK 3.6.0.126. The weakness is categorized under [CWE-119], Improper Restriction of Operations within the Bounds of a Memory Buffer. The vulnerability requires adjacent network access and no user interaction, making it exploitable by any device on the same Wi-Fi or local network segment.
Critical Impact
An attacker on the local network can cause unexpected app termination on any device using vulnerable AirPlay or CarPlay SDK components, disrupting media streaming and integrated vehicle communication services.
Affected Products
- Apple AirPlay Audio SDK versions prior to 2.7.1
- Apple AirPlay Video SDK versions prior to 3.6.0.126
- Apple CarPlay Communication Plug-in
Discovery Timeline
- 2025-04-30 - CVE-2025-24132 published to NVD
- 2026-04-02 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2025-24132
Vulnerability Analysis
The vulnerability resides in the memory handling logic of Apple's AirPlay SDK components used by third-party manufacturers to integrate AirPlay and CarPlay streaming functionality into speakers, receivers, televisions, and automotive head units. Improper bounds restriction on a memory buffer allows malformed network input to corrupt process memory, leading to an application crash. The CWE-119 classification indicates the flaw involves operations that read or write outside the intended buffer boundaries. While the issue impacts availability, confidentiality and integrity remain unaffected according to the CVSS vector. The EPSS probability remains low, and no public exploit code or proof-of-concept has been published.
Root Cause
The root cause is improper memory handling within the AirPlay SDK protocol parsers. When the affected component processes specially crafted AirPlay protocol traffic, memory operations exceed expected boundaries. Apple's advisory confirms the fix involved improved memory handling rather than a logic change, suggesting a buffer boundary or allocation issue in the streaming protocol handlers.
Attack Vector
Exploitation requires adjacent network access, meaning the attacker must reside on the same local network as the target device. This typically means a shared Wi-Fi network, Ethernet segment, or vehicle CarPlay session. The attacker sends crafted AirPlay protocol messages to a listening device. No authentication or user interaction is required. The result is unexpected termination of the AirPlay service or host application.
No verified public exploit code is available. The vulnerability mechanism is described in prose only; refer to the Apple Support Article for vendor technical details.
Detection Methods for CVE-2025-24132
Indicators of Compromise
- Unexpected termination or repeated crashes of AirPlay receiver applications or CarPlay-enabled processes on smart speakers, TVs, or vehicle infotainment systems.
- Anomalous AirPlay protocol traffic on TCP/UDP port 7000 and related mDNS/Bonjour discovery traffic from untrusted local hosts.
- Crash dumps referencing AirPlay SDK libraries or CarPlay communication plug-in modules.
Detection Strategies
- Monitor application crash telemetry from devices that embed AirPlay or CarPlay SDKs and correlate crashes with inbound local network traffic.
- Inspect mDNS service advertisements and AirPlay session initiation packets for malformed headers or oversized fields.
- Deploy network intrusion detection signatures targeting anomalous AirPlay protocol structures originating from non-trusted endpoints on the LAN.
Monitoring Recommendations
- Enable verbose logging on AirPlay-capable devices and forward crash events to a centralized logging or SIEM platform for correlation.
- Segment guest and IoT networks from corporate or trusted segments to limit adjacent-network reachability to AirPlay receivers.
- Track vendor firmware update status for third-party hardware that bundles the affected Apple SDKs.
How to Mitigate CVE-2025-24132
Immediate Actions Required
- Identify all devices and applications integrating Apple AirPlay audio SDK, AirPlay video SDK, or the CarPlay Communication Plug-in within your environment.
- Contact device manufacturers for firmware updates that incorporate AirPlay audio SDK 2.7.1 and AirPlay video SDK 3.6.0.126 or later.
- Restrict AirPlay and CarPlay services to trusted network segments through VLAN segmentation and firewall rules.
Patch Information
Apple addressed the issue in AirPlay audio SDK 2.7.1 and AirPlay video SDK 3.6.0.126. Device vendors must integrate the updated SDKs into their firmware releases. Refer to the Apple Support Article for the official advisory and component version details.
Workarounds
- Disable AirPlay receiver functionality on devices where it is not required for business operations.
- Place AirPlay-capable IoT devices on isolated VLANs with strict ACLs blocking traffic from untrusted hosts.
- Block inbound traffic to TCP port 7000 and related AirPlay discovery ports from guest or untrusted network segments.
# Example firewall rule to restrict AirPlay traffic to a trusted subnet
iptables -A INPUT -p tcp --dport 7000 -s 10.0.10.0/24 -j ACCEPT
iptables -A INPUT -p tcp --dport 7000 -j DROP
iptables -A INPUT -p udp --dport 5353 ! -s 10.0.10.0/24 -j DROP
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
