CVE-2025-24151: Apple macOS Use-After-Free Vulnerability

CVE-2025-24151 Overview

CVE-2025-24151 is a memory handling vulnerability affecting Apple macOS Sequoia, Sonoma, and Ventura. A local application can trigger unexpected system termination or corrupt kernel memory on affected systems. Apple addressed the issue through improved memory handling in macOS Sequoia 15.3, macOS Sonoma 14.7.3, and macOS Ventura 13.7.3. The weakness is categorized under [CWE-400] uncontrolled resource consumption. Exploitation requires local access and user interaction, limiting the attack surface to adversaries who can already run code on the target host.

Critical Impact
A malicious application can corrupt kernel memory or cause a system crash, undermining host availability and potentially enabling further kernel-level attacks.

Affected Products

Apple macOS Ventura prior to 13.7.3
Apple macOS Sonoma prior to 14.7.3
Apple macOS Sequoia prior to 15.3

Discovery Timeline

2025-01-27 - CVE-2025-24151 published to the National Vulnerability Database
2026-06-17 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2025-24151

Vulnerability Analysis

CVE-2025-24151 is a kernel memory corruption flaw in macOS. Apple's advisory describes the condition as a memory handling issue that an application can trigger to cause unexpected system termination or corrupt kernel memory. The outcome maps to a loss of system availability and potential integrity impact on kernel structures. Because the vulnerability resides in a privileged execution context, successful corruption of kernel memory can serve as a primitive for additional attacks when chained with other weaknesses.

Root Cause

Apple attributes the defect to insufficient memory handling in a kernel-adjacent component. The vendor's remediation applied improved memory management, consistent with the [CWE-400] uncontrolled resource consumption classification assigned in the NVD record. Apple has not published additional technical specifics about the affected subsystem.

Attack Vector

Exploitation requires local access. An attacker must be able to execute an application on the target macOS host and induce user interaction to reach the vulnerable code path. There are no network preconditions and no privileges are required beyond those of a standard user application. No public proof-of-concept exploit, exploit database entry, or in-the-wild activity has been reported, and the issue is not listed in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog.

For technical context, refer to the vendor advisories: Apple Support Article #122068, Apple Support Article #122069, and Apple Support Article #122070.

Detection Methods for CVE-2025-24151

Indicators of Compromise

Unexpected kernel panics or system reboots on macOS endpoints running versions prior to 13.7.3, 14.7.3, or 15.3.
Panic logs under /Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/ referencing kernel memory faults correlated with execution of an untrusted application.
Repeated crash events tied to a specific unsigned or recently installed binary.

Detection Strategies

Inventory macOS build versions across the fleet and flag endpoints running unpatched Ventura, Sonoma, or Sequoia releases.
Correlate application launch telemetry with subsequent kernel panic reports to identify suspicious triggers.
Hunt for execution of unsigned or unknown binaries immediately preceding system termination events.

Monitoring Recommendations

Forward macOS diagnostic reports and ReportCrash output to a central log pipeline for review.
Alert on recurrent kernel panics from the same user or process lineage.
Track patch deployment status for the Apple security updates referenced in the vendor advisories.

How to Mitigate CVE-2025-24151

Immediate Actions Required

Update affected hosts to macOS Sequoia 15.3, macOS Sonoma 14.7.3, or macOS Ventura 13.7.3 as applicable.
Restrict installation and execution of untrusted applications on managed macOS endpoints.
Verify Gatekeeper and System Integrity Protection remain enabled across the fleet.

Patch Information

Apple published fixes in macOS Sequoia 15.3, macOS Sonoma 14.7.3, and macOS Ventura 13.7.3. Patch details are documented in Apple Support Article #122068, Apple Support Article #122069, and Apple Support Article #122070. Administrators should apply the update corresponding to each macOS release deployed in their environment.

Workarounds

No vendor-sanctioned workaround exists; patching is the recommended remediation.
Limit local user privileges and enforce allowlisting of approved applications to reduce the opportunity to run the triggering code.
Isolate systems that cannot be updated immediately from sensitive network segments until patches are applied.

bash

# Verify installed macOS version against the fixed releases
sw_vers -productVersion

# Trigger macOS software update check and install available updates
sudo softwareupdate --list
sudo softwareupdate --install --all --restart