CVE-2025-24230: Apple iPadOS Buffer Overflow Vulnerability

CVE-2025-24230 Overview

CVE-2025-24230 is an out-of-bounds read vulnerability affecting multiple Apple operating systems including iOS, iPadOS, macOS, tvOS, and visionOS. The vulnerability exists in the audio processing components of these platforms and can be triggered by playing a specially crafted malicious audio file. Apple addressed this issue through improved input validation in their security updates released across all affected platforms.

Critical Impact

Processing a malicious audio file may lead to unexpected application termination, with potential for information disclosure or further exploitation due to the out-of-bounds memory read condition.

Affected Products

• Apple iOS 18.4 and earlier
• Apple iPadOS 17.7.6 and 18.4 and earlier
• Apple macOS Ventura 13.7.5, Sonoma 14.7.5, and Sequoia 15.4 and earlier
• Apple tvOS 18.4 and earlier
• Apple visionOS 2.4 and earlier

Discovery Timeline

• March 31, 2025 - CVE-2025-24230 published to NVD
• November 03, 2025 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2025-24230

Vulnerability Analysis

This vulnerability is classified as CWE-125 (Out-of-Bounds Read), a memory safety issue that occurs when software reads data past the end or before the beginning of an intended buffer. In the context of CVE-2025-24230, the audio processing subsystem in Apple's operating systems fails to properly validate input when parsing audio file data, allowing an attacker to craft audio content that triggers memory access beyond allocated boundaries.

Out-of-bounds read vulnerabilities in media processing components are particularly concerning because they can potentially expose sensitive memory contents and may serve as a stepping stone for more sophisticated attacks. The vulnerability affects the core audio handling mechanisms shared across Apple's ecosystem, impacting iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple TV, and Vision Pro devices.

Root Cause

The root cause of this vulnerability is insufficient input validation in the audio file parsing routines. When processing audio file metadata or audio stream data, the affected code fails to properly verify that read operations remain within the bounds of allocated memory buffers. This allows specially crafted audio files with malformed headers or stream data to cause the application to read memory outside the intended buffer boundaries.

Apple addressed this by implementing improved input validation checks that ensure all read operations are properly bounded before accessing memory locations based on values parsed from audio file data.

Attack Vector

The attack vector for CVE-2025-24230 is network-based, requiring no privileges or user interaction according to the CVSS assessment. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by:

1. Crafting a malicious audio file with specially manipulated metadata or audio stream data
2. Distributing the malicious file through various channels (email attachments, messaging apps, websites, or file sharing)
3. When a victim's device processes the audio file (through playback, preview, or automatic indexing), the out-of-bounds read is triggered

The vulnerability exploitation results in unexpected application termination at minimum, but the out-of-bounds read could potentially leak sensitive memory contents or be chained with other vulnerabilities for more severe impact.

Detection Methods for CVE-2025-24230

Indicators of Compromise

• Unexpected crashes in audio playback applications or system audio services
• Crash logs indicating memory access violations in audio processing frameworks
• Unusual audio files with malformed or suspicious headers in user downloads or email attachments
• Core dumps referencing audio codec or audio file parser components

Detection Strategies

• Monitor for application crashes related to audio processing components (AudioToolbox, CoreAudio, AVFoundation frameworks)
• Implement file scanning for malformed audio file headers before processing
• Deploy endpoint detection solutions capable of identifying exploitation attempts targeting media parsers
• Review system logs for repeated audio service crashes or restarts

Monitoring Recommendations

• Enable crash reporting and aggregate crash data to identify patterns consistent with exploitation attempts
• Monitor for suspicious audio file downloads or receipt through communication channels
• Implement network-level inspection for known malicious audio file signatures
• Configure SentinelOne agents to detect and block exploitation attempts targeting Apple audio processing vulnerabilities

How to Mitigate CVE-2025-24230

Immediate Actions Required

• Update all Apple devices to the latest patched versions: iOS 18.4, iPadOS 17.7.6/18.4, macOS Ventura 13.7.5, macOS Sonoma 14.7.5, macOS Sequoia 15.4, tvOS 18.4, and visionOS 2.4
• Prioritize patching for devices that regularly process untrusted audio content
• Advise users to avoid opening audio files from untrusted sources until patches are applied
• Review and update organizational policies regarding automatic media file processing

Patch Information

Apple has released security updates addressing this vulnerability across all affected platforms. Patches are available through the following Apple Security Advisories:

• Apple Support Advisory #122371 - visionOS 2.4
• Apple Support Advisory #122372 - tvOS 18.4
• Apple Support Advisory #122373 - macOS Ventura 13.7.5
• Apple Support Advisory #122374 - macOS Sonoma 14.7.5
• Apple Support Advisory #122375 - macOS Sequoia 15.4
• Apple Support Advisory #122377 - iOS 18.4 and iPadOS 18.4
• Apple Support Advisory #122378 - iPadOS 17.7.6

Organizations should apply these updates through standard software update mechanisms or mobile device management (MDM) solutions.

Workarounds

• Implement email and web gateway filtering to block or quarantine audio file attachments from untrusted sources
• Disable automatic media preview features in email clients and messaging applications where possible
• Use application sandboxing and isolation techniques to limit the impact of potential exploitation
• Consider restricting audio file access to trusted sources only in high-security environments until patches can be deployed