CVE-2025-24143 Overview
CVE-2025-24143 is a user fingerprinting vulnerability affecting Apple Safari and multiple Apple operating systems. The vulnerability stems from insufficient access restrictions to the file system, allowing maliciously crafted webpages to fingerprint users. Browser fingerprinting enables attackers to uniquely identify and track users across websites without their consent, undermining privacy protections.
Critical Impact
Malicious webpages can exploit this vulnerability to fingerprint users, enabling persistent tracking and privacy compromise across Apple devices including Mac, iPhone, iPad, and Vision Pro.
Affected Products
- Apple Safari (versions prior to 18.3)
- Apple macOS Sequoia (versions prior to 15.3)
- Apple iOS and iPadOS (versions prior to 18.3)
- Apple visionOS (versions prior to 2.3)
Discovery Timeline
- January 27, 2025 - CVE-2025-24143 published to NVD
- November 3, 2025 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2025-24143
Vulnerability Analysis
This vulnerability allows adversaries to exploit improper file system access restrictions in Safari's WebKit engine to gather unique device characteristics. Browser fingerprinting techniques can collect various data points including installed fonts, system configurations, screen resolutions, and other browser-specific attributes that when combined create a unique identifier for tracking purposes.
The attack requires user interaction (visiting a malicious webpage) but no authentication is needed. The vulnerability enables high confidentiality impact as attackers can gather sensitive information about the user's system configuration and potentially identify them across different browsing sessions, effectively bypassing privacy measures like cookie deletion.
Root Cause
The root cause is classified as CWE-862 (Missing Authorization), indicating that the Safari browser failed to properly restrict access to file system information that could be used for fingerprinting purposes. The WebKit engine did not adequately enforce access controls when webpages attempted to query certain system resources or file system attributes.
Attack Vector
The attack is network-based and requires a user to visit a maliciously crafted webpage. The attacker embeds fingerprinting scripts within web content that exploits the insufficient file system access restrictions. When a victim navigates to the malicious page, the scripts execute automatically within the browser context, gathering system-specific information without any additional user interaction beyond the initial page visit.
The fingerprinting data collected can be transmitted to attacker-controlled servers, enabling:
- Cross-site user tracking without cookies
- De-anonymization of users across multiple browsing sessions
- Building persistent user profiles for targeted attacks
Detection Methods for CVE-2025-24143
Indicators of Compromise
- Unusual JavaScript execution patterns attempting to access file system information
- Web requests to known fingerprinting script domains or suspicious third-party resources
- Browser processes querying system configuration files or font directories unexpectedly
- Outbound network connections transmitting encoded system characteristic data
Detection Strategies
- Monitor for anomalous WebKit process behavior accessing file system resources
- Implement web traffic analysis to identify known fingerprinting script signatures
- Review browser extension and content security policy violations
- Deploy endpoint detection tools to identify suspicious JavaScript execution patterns
Monitoring Recommendations
- Enable enhanced logging for Safari and WebKit processes on managed devices
- Monitor network traffic for connections to known fingerprinting services
- Review Content Security Policy (CSP) violation reports for fingerprinting attempts
- Implement browser-level telemetry to detect unusual resource access patterns
How to Mitigate CVE-2025-24143
Immediate Actions Required
- Update Safari to version 18.3 or later on all affected systems
- Update macOS Sequoia to version 15.3 or later
- Update iOS and iPadOS devices to version 18.3 or later
- Update visionOS devices to version 2.3 or later
- Enable automatic updates to ensure timely security patch deployment
Patch Information
Apple has addressed this vulnerability with improved access restrictions to the file system. Security patches are available through the following official channels:
- Apple Support Document #122066 - Safari 18.3 Security Update
- Apple Support Document #122068 - macOS Sequoia 15.3 Security Update
- Apple Support Document #122073 - iOS/iPadOS 18.3 Security Update
- Apple Support Document #122074 - visionOS 2.3 Security Update
Additional technical details are available via Full Disclosure Post #13, Full Disclosure Post #15, and Full Disclosure Post #20. Debian users should also reference the Debian LTS Announcement #14.
Workarounds
- Use browser extensions that block known fingerprinting scripts (e.g., Privacy Badger, uBlock Origin)
- Enable Safari's Intelligent Tracking Prevention (ITP) features for enhanced privacy protection
- Consider using Private Browsing mode when visiting untrusted websites
- Implement network-level blocking of known fingerprinting domains via DNS or firewall rules
- Restrict JavaScript execution on untrusted sites using content blockers
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
