CVE-2025-24160: Apple iPadOS DOS Vulnerability

CVE-2025-24160 Overview

CVE-2025-24160 is a Denial of Service vulnerability affecting multiple Apple operating systems including iOS, iPadOS, macOS, tvOS, visionOS, and watchOS. The vulnerability stems from improper resource release and validation during file parsing operations. When a maliciously crafted file is processed by an affected system, it can cause unexpected application termination, disrupting normal system operations and user workflows.

Critical Impact

Parsing a specially crafted file may lead to unexpected application termination, causing denial of service conditions across Apple's ecosystem of devices.

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) and macOS Sequoia (versions prior to 15.3)
• Apple tvOS (versions prior to 18.3)
• Apple visionOS (versions prior to 2.3)
• Apple watchOS (versions prior to 11.3)

Discovery Timeline

• January 27, 2025 - CVE-2025-24160 published to NVD
• November 3, 2025 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2025-24160

Vulnerability Analysis

This vulnerability is classified under CWE-404 (Improper Resource Shutdown or Release), indicating a flaw in how affected Apple applications handle resource management during file parsing operations. When processing certain file types, the affected components fail to properly validate input data or manage resources, leading to an uncontrolled termination state.

The attack requires user interaction—specifically, the victim must open or process a malicious file. This could occur through various vectors including email attachments, downloaded files, or content shared via messaging applications. While the vulnerability does not result in data theft or code execution, it can be leveraged to disrupt productivity by forcing applications to crash repeatedly.

Root Cause

The root cause is related to improper resource shutdown or release (CWE-404) within Apple's file parsing routines. The system fails to properly handle edge cases or malformed data structures during file processing, resulting in resource exhaustion or invalid memory states that trigger application crashes. Apple addressed this issue by implementing improved validation checks on file content before processing.

Attack Vector

The vulnerability is exploitable via network-based attack vectors, though it requires user interaction to trigger. An attacker could distribute malicious files through various channels:

• Email attachments targeting specific applications
• Malicious documents hosted on websites
• Files shared through messaging platforms like iMessage or AirDrop
• Content embedded in social media or collaborative platforms

When a user opens the crafted file, the vulnerable parsing routine encounters unexpected data that causes improper resource handling, leading to application termination.

The vulnerability mechanism involves inadequate input validation during file parsing operations. When a malformed file is processed, the parser fails to properly manage system resources, resulting in application crash. For detailed technical information, refer to the Apple security advisories and Full Disclosure postings.

Detection Methods for CVE-2025-24160

Indicators of Compromise

• Repeated unexpected application crashes when opening specific file types
• System logs showing abnormal termination events with resource-related error codes
• Presence of suspicious files with unusual or malformed structures in user directories

Detection Strategies

• Monitor system crash reports for patterns indicating file parsing failures
• Implement file type filtering and deep inspection for inbound files via email or web gateways
• Deploy endpoint detection rules to identify repeated application crashes correlated with file access events
• Use behavioral analysis to detect anomalous file processing patterns

Monitoring Recommendations

• Enable verbose logging for file handling operations on critical systems
• Configure alerting for unusual application termination rates
• Monitor for users reporting repeated crashes when opening specific files
• Review crash dumps for indicators of resource exhaustion or invalid memory access patterns

How to Mitigate CVE-2025-24160

Immediate Actions Required

• Update all Apple devices to the latest patched versions immediately
• Advise users to avoid opening files from untrusted or unknown sources
• Implement email and web gateway filtering to scan attachments for potential exploits
• Enable automatic updates on all Apple devices to ensure timely patch deployment

Patch Information

Apple has released security updates addressing this vulnerability. Users should update to the following versions or later:

• iPadOS 17.7.4 or iPadOS 18.3
• iOS 18.3
• macOS Sonoma 14.7.3 or macOS Sequoia 15.3
• tvOS 18.3
• visionOS 2.3
• watchOS 11.3

For complete patch details, refer to the official Apple security advisories:

• Apple Support Document #122066
• Apple Support Document #122067
• Apple Support Document #122068
• Apple Support Document #122069
• Apple Support Document #122071
• Apple Support Document #122072
• Apple Support Document #122073

Workarounds

• Restrict file downloads from untrusted sources until patches can be applied
• Use Mobile Device Management (MDM) policies to control file access on enterprise devices
• Implement application sandboxing where possible to limit crash impact
• Configure backup and recovery processes to minimize disruption from application crashes

# Check current iOS/iPadOS version via command line (for managed devices)
# Use MDM or Apple Configurator to verify device versions

# For macOS, verify system version
sw_vers -productVersion

# Enable automatic updates on macOS
sudo softwareupdate --schedule on