CVE-2025-30471: Apple iPadOS DoS Vulnerability

CVE-2025-30471 Overview

CVE-2025-30471 is an input validation vulnerability affecting multiple Apple operating systems. A remote attacker can trigger a denial-of-service (DoS) condition without authentication or user interaction. The flaw stems from improper validation logic and is categorized under [CWE-20] Improper Input Validation. Apple addressed the issue by introducing improved validation logic across affected platforms.

The vulnerability impacts availability across the Apple ecosystem, including iOS, iPadOS, macOS, tvOS, visionOS, and watchOS. Network reachability is the only precondition for exploitation, making widely-exposed Apple endpoints viable targets for service disruption attacks.

Critical Impact
A remote, unauthenticated attacker can cause a denial-of-service across iOS, iPadOS, macOS, tvOS, visionOS, and watchOS devices by sending malformed network input.

Affected Products

Apple iOS 18.4 and iPadOS 18.4, iPadOS 17.7.6 (versions prior to fix)
Apple macOS Sequoia 15.4, macOS Sonoma 14.7.5, macOS Ventura 13.7.5 (versions prior to fix)
Apple tvOS 18.4, visionOS 2.4, watchOS 11.4 (versions prior to fix)

Discovery Timeline

2025-03-31 - CVE-2025-30471 published to NVD
2026-04-02 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2025-30471

Vulnerability Analysis

CVE-2025-30471 is a remotely-exploitable denial-of-service flaw rooted in improper input validation. According to Apple's advisories, the issue was addressed with improved logic. A remote user can submit malformed input over the network and disrupt service availability on the targeted device.

The vulnerability does not expose confidentiality or integrity. Impact is restricted to availability, consistent with a denial-of-service condition. Exploitation does not require authentication, privileges, or user interaction.

Root Cause

The defect originates in validation logic that failed to correctly verify properties of network-supplied input. When the affected component processed crafted data, the missing or incomplete validation allowed the input to drive the process into an error state. Apple's fix reinforces the validation path, ensuring rejected inputs cannot reach vulnerable code.

This class of weakness aligns with [CWE-20] Improper Input Validation. Such flaws commonly produce crashes, hangs, or watchdog-triggered restarts.

Attack Vector

The attack vector is network-based. An attacker reachable over the network sends specially-formed traffic to the vulnerable Apple component. The malformed input bypasses validation and triggers a fault that interrupts normal operation. Apple has not published an exploit, and no public proof-of-concept is referenced in the advisories.

No verified public exploit code exists for CVE-2025-30471. Refer to the Apple Security Advisory #122371 and related advisories for vendor-supplied technical context.

Detection Methods for CVE-2025-30471

Indicators of Compromise

Unexpected service crashes, kernel panics, or device reboots on Apple endpoints running pre-patch OS versions
Repeated daemon restarts or watchdog events correlated with inbound network traffic from a single external source
Anomalous spikes in malformed protocol traffic directed at Apple devices

Detection Strategies

Inventory all Apple endpoints and compare installed OS versions against the fixed releases (iOS/iPadOS 18.4, iPadOS 17.7.6, macOS 15.4/14.7.5/13.7.5, tvOS 18.4, visionOS 2.4, watchOS 11.4)
Monitor crash reports and ReportCrash artifacts on macOS for repeated termination of the same network-facing process
Correlate network flow telemetry with endpoint stability events to identify externally-induced disruption patterns

Monitoring Recommendations

Centralize macOS unified logs and iOS device crash reports for repeat-fault analysis
Alert on bursts of malformed packets from a single source toward Apple device subnets
Track patch compliance against the fixed OS versions through mobile device management (MDM) reporting

How to Mitigate CVE-2025-30471

Immediate Actions Required

Update all Apple devices to iOS 18.4, iPadOS 18.4 or 17.7.6, macOS Sequoia 15.4, macOS Sonoma 14.7.5, macOS Ventura 13.7.5, tvOS 18.4, visionOS 2.4, or watchOS 11.4
Enforce updates through MDM policy for managed fleets and prioritize externally-reachable devices
Restrict network exposure of Apple endpoints to untrusted networks where feasible until patching completes

Patch Information

Apple released fixes across its product line. See vendor guidance: Apple Security Advisory #122371, #122372, #122373, #122374, #122375, #122377, and #122378.

Workarounds

Apply network segmentation to limit which sources can reach Apple devices on vulnerable network services
Use perimeter filtering to block malformed protocol traffic targeting Apple endpoints until patches are deployed
Disable unused network-facing services on affected devices to reduce attack surface

bash

# Verify macOS version meets the patched baseline
sw_vers -productVersion

# Trigger Apple software update check on macOS
sudo softwareupdate --list
sudo softwareupdate --install --all --restart