CVE-2025-31202 Overview
CVE-2025-31202 is a null pointer dereference vulnerability [CWE-476] affecting multiple Apple operating systems. An attacker on the same local network can trigger the flaw to cause a denial-of-service condition on the target device. Apple addressed the issue through improved input validation in iOS 18.4, iPadOS 18.4, macOS Sequoia 15.4, tvOS 18.4, and visionOS 2.4. Exploitation requires user interaction and adjacent network access, which limits mass exploitation potential. No public proof-of-concept has been released, and the vulnerability is not listed in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog.
Critical Impact
A local network attacker can crash the affected component and disrupt device availability on unpatched Apple systems.
Affected Products
- Apple iOS and iPadOS versions prior to 18.4
- Apple macOS Sequoia prior to 15.4
- Apple tvOS prior to 18.4 and visionOS prior to 2.4
Discovery Timeline
- 2025-04-29 - CVE-2025-31202 published to the National Vulnerability Database
- 2026-06-17 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2025-31202
Vulnerability Analysis
The vulnerability is a null pointer dereference [CWE-476] in a network-facing component shared across Apple's operating system families. When the affected component receives crafted input from an adjacent network source, it fails to validate that a pointer is non-null before dereferencing it. The resulting access to address zero causes the process to crash, producing a denial-of-service condition on the affected device.
Apple's advisory states the issue was addressed with improved input validation, indicating the fix introduces boundary checks on the offending input path before pointer dereference occurs. Because exploitation requires user interaction and local network positioning, an attacker typically must already be on the same Wi-Fi segment or LAN as the target.
Root Cause
The root cause is missing validation of an input-derived pointer within an Apple system component. The code path assumed the referenced structure would always be populated, but adjacent-network input can drive the parser into a state where the pointer remains uninitialized or null when dereferenced.
Attack Vector
The attack vector is local network (adjacent). An attacker within the same broadcast or routed local segment sends crafted protocol data to the vulnerable service on a target device. User interaction is required, meaning the victim must perform an action such as accepting a connection, opening a shared resource, or interacting with a prompt for the malicious payload to reach the vulnerable code path. Successful exploitation results in a process or subsystem crash rather than code execution or data disclosure.
No verified public exploit code is available for CVE-2025-31202. Refer to the vendor advisories for authoritative technical details.
Detection Methods for CVE-2025-31202
Indicators of Compromise
- Unexpected crash reports referencing null pointer or EXC_BAD_ACCESS at address 0x0 in Apple system components on iOS, iPadOS, macOS, tvOS, or visionOS.
- Repeated service restarts or kernel panic logs correlated with network activity from a single local-network peer.
- Anomalous traffic patterns from an untrusted device on the same Wi-Fi or wired segment immediately preceding device instability.
Detection Strategies
- Collect and centralize Apple device crash logs and diagnostic reports for review against the null pointer signature described above.
- Monitor local network segments for unusual broadcast, mDNS, or peer-to-peer traffic bursts targeting Apple devices.
- Correlate device unavailability events across an office network to identify a common upstream attacker.
Monitoring Recommendations
- Ingest macOS unified logs and iOS .ips crash reports into a centralized data lake for correlation and searchable retention.
- Baseline normal local network protocol activity so that anomalous adjacent traffic against Apple devices can be flagged quickly.
- Track patch compliance across the Apple fleet using mobile device management (MDM) reporting to identify devices still exposed to CVE-2025-31202.
How to Mitigate CVE-2025-31202
Immediate Actions Required
- Update all affected devices to iOS 18.4, iPadOS 18.4, macOS Sequoia 15.4, tvOS 18.4, or visionOS 2.4 or later.
- Prioritize devices that regularly connect to untrusted or shared networks such as conference venues, hotels, and public Wi-Fi.
- Use MDM policies to enforce minimum OS versions and block enrollment of devices running vulnerable builds.
Patch Information
Apple released fixes in iOS 18.4, iPadOS 18.4, macOS Sequoia 15.4, tvOS 18.4, and visionOS 2.4. Full details are available in the vendor advisories: Apple Support Document #122371, Apple Support Document #122373, Apple Support Document #122377, and Apple Support Document #122378.
Workarounds
- Avoid connecting unpatched Apple devices to untrusted local networks until the update is applied.
- Segment guest and untrusted Wi-Fi from corporate networks hosting Apple endpoints to reduce adjacent attacker exposure.
- Disable non-essential local network services and sharing features on unpatched devices to minimize exposed attack surface.
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.