CVE-2025-24159: Apple iPadOS RCE Vulnerability

CVE-2025-24159 Overview

CVE-2025-24159 is a validation vulnerability affecting multiple Apple operating systems that could allow a malicious application to execute arbitrary code with kernel privileges. The flaw stems from insufficient input validation logic within the kernel, enabling attackers to bypass security controls and gain the highest level of system access.

This vulnerability impacts a broad range of Apple devices including iPhones, iPads, Macs, Apple Watches, Apple TVs, and Apple Vision Pro headsets. The local attack vector requires user interaction, typically through the installation and execution of a malicious application designed to exploit this validation weakness.

Critical Impact

A malicious app can achieve kernel-level code execution across Apple's entire ecosystem, potentially compromising device integrity, stealing sensitive data, and bypassing all security controls.

Affected Products

• Apple iPadOS (versions prior to 17.7.4 and 18.3)
• Apple iOS (versions prior to 18.3)
• Apple macOS Sonoma (versions prior to 14.7.3)
• Apple macOS Sequoia (versions prior to 15.3)
• Apple watchOS (versions prior to 11.3)
• Apple tvOS (versions prior to 18.3)
• Apple visionOS (versions prior to 2.3)

Discovery Timeline

• January 27, 2025 - CVE-2025-24159 published to NVD
• November 3, 2025 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2025-24159

Vulnerability Analysis

This vulnerability is classified under CWE-94 (Improper Control of Generation of Code / Code Injection), indicating that the flaw allows attackers to inject and execute arbitrary code within the kernel context. The validation weakness exists in how the affected Apple operating systems process certain inputs, failing to properly verify data integrity before allowing privileged operations.

When exploited, this vulnerability enables an attacker to escalate from user-level application privileges directly to kernel privileges, effectively bypassing all sandboxing and security restrictions. Kernel-level access provides complete control over the device, including the ability to read and write arbitrary memory, manipulate system processes, and persist across reboots.

The attack requires local access, meaning the attacker must first get a malicious application onto the target device. This is typically achieved through social engineering, malicious app distribution, or by exploiting another vulnerability to deliver the payload. User interaction is required to trigger the vulnerability, such as launching the malicious application.

Root Cause

The root cause of CVE-2025-24159 is an improper validation mechanism within Apple's kernel subsystems. The vulnerability arises from insufficient checks on input data before it is processed by privileged kernel functions. This validation gap allows specially crafted input to bypass security controls and execute code with elevated privileges.

Apple addressed the issue by implementing improved validation logic to ensure all input is properly sanitized and verified before being processed by kernel-level operations.

Attack Vector

The attack vector for CVE-2025-24159 is local, requiring the attacker to have the ability to run code on the target device. The exploitation scenario typically involves:

1. Delivery of a malicious application to the target device
2. User execution of the malicious application
3. The application triggers the validation flaw by providing malformed input
4. The kernel processes the malicious input without proper validation
5. Arbitrary code execution occurs with kernel privileges

The vulnerability does not require any special privileges to exploit beyond normal application execution rights, making it particularly dangerous if an attacker can convince a user to install and run a malicious app.

Detection Methods for CVE-2025-24159

Indicators of Compromise

• Unusual kernel process activity or unexpected kernel extensions being loaded
• Applications attempting to access kernel memory regions outside normal bounds
• Anomalous system calls from user-space applications targeting kernel interfaces
• Unexpected crashes or kernel panics potentially indicating exploitation attempts

Detection Strategies

• Monitor for unusual application behavior particularly apps requesting or achieving elevated privileges
• Implement endpoint detection solutions capable of identifying kernel-level exploitation attempts
• Deploy behavioral analysis to detect applications attempting suspicious system calls
• Review system logs for evidence of privilege escalation or unauthorized kernel access

Monitoring Recommendations

• Enable verbose logging on Apple devices through MDM solutions to capture kernel-related events
• Utilize SentinelOne's macOS and iOS endpoint protection for real-time threat detection
• Monitor for applications not from the App Store or from unknown developers being executed
• Implement application allowlisting to prevent unauthorized apps from running

How to Mitigate CVE-2025-24159

Immediate Actions Required

• Update all Apple devices to the latest patched versions immediately
• Review installed applications and remove any from untrusted sources
• Enforce MDM policies to restrict app installation to trusted sources only
• Enable automatic updates to ensure timely patch deployment

Patch Information

Apple has released security updates addressing this vulnerability across all affected platforms. Organizations and users should update to the following versions or later:

• iPadOS: Update to version 17.7.4 or 18.3 - See Apple Support Document #122066
• iOS: Update to version 18.3 - See Apple Support Document #122067
• macOS Sonoma: Update to version 14.7.3 - See Apple Support Document #122068
• macOS Sequoia: Update to version 15.3 - See Apple Support Document #122069
• watchOS: Update to version 11.3 - See Apple Support Document #122071
• tvOS: Update to version 18.3 - See Apple Support Document #122072
• visionOS: Update to version 2.3 - See Apple Support Document #122073

Additional technical details are available through the Full Disclosure Mailing List.

Workarounds

• Restrict application installation to only verified App Store applications via MDM policies
• Enable Lockdown Mode on high-risk devices to reduce attack surface
• Implement network segmentation to limit lateral movement if a device is compromised
• Educate users about the risks of installing applications from untrusted sources

# macOS MDM profile to restrict app installations
# Deploy via Apple Business Manager or Jamf Pro
# This restricts app installation to managed sources only
sudo defaults write /Library/Preferences/com.apple.applicationaccess.new allowDownloadApplePublisher -bool true
sudo defaults write /Library/Preferences/com.apple.applicationaccess.new allowDownloadIdentifiedDeveloper -bool false
sudo defaults write /Library/Preferences/com.apple.applicationaccess.new allowDownloadAnywhere -bool false