CVE-2025-46311: Apple iPadOS Information Disclosure Flaw

CVE-2025-46311 Overview

CVE-2025-46311 is a user interface inconsistency vulnerability affecting Apple iOS and iPadOS. The flaw allows an application to access sensitive user data due to improper state management in the operating system's UI layer. Apple resolved the issue in iOS 18.7.3, iPadOS 18.7.3, iOS 26.2, and iPadOS 26.2.

The weakness is categorized under [CWE-451: User Interface (UI) Misrepresentation of Critical Information]. An attacker leveraging this flaw can present misleading UI states that bypass user expectations around data access controls.

Critical Impact
A malicious application can access sensitive user data by exploiting inconsistent UI state on unpatched iOS and iPadOS devices.

Affected Products

Apple iOS prior to 18.7.3
Apple iPadOS prior to 18.7.3
Apple iOS prior to 26.2 and iPadOS prior to 26.2

Discovery Timeline

2026-05-12 - CVE-2025-46311 published to the National Vulnerability Database
2026-05-12 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2025-46311

Vulnerability Analysis

The vulnerability resides in how iOS and iPadOS manage UI state transitions when presenting permission or data access surfaces. Inconsistent state handling allows an application to perform actions or read data while the user interface presents a misleading representation of the system's current state.

This class of issue, tracked as [CWE-451], typically enables an application to bypass user trust assumptions enforced through UI cues. The attacker requires no authentication and no user interaction beyond running a malicious application that exercises the flawed state transitions.

Apple addressed the defect by enforcing improved state management within the affected UI components. The fix ensures that UI state and underlying access decisions remain synchronized across transitions.

Root Cause

The root cause is improper synchronization between the UI presentation layer and the underlying privilege or data access state. When an application triggers specific state transitions, the system fails to reconcile what the user sees with what the application can actually access.

Attack Vector

Exploitation requires a malicious or compromised application running on the target device. The application manipulates UI state transitions to access user data that the interface implies is protected. No network exploitation primitive is required despite the network attack vector classification used in the CVSS string.

No public proof-of-concept code or exploit modules are available. The vulnerability is not listed in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog. Refer to the Apple Security Advisory for vendor technical details.

Detection Methods for CVE-2025-46311

Indicators of Compromise

No public indicators of compromise have been published for CVE-2025-46311.
Applications requesting access to sensitive data stores immediately after unusual UI state transitions warrant review.
Devices running iOS or iPadOS versions earlier than 18.7.3 or 26.2 remain exposed.

Detection Strategies

Inventory managed Apple mobile devices and identify endpoints running affected iOS and iPadOS builds.
Use mobile device management (MDM) reporting to flag devices that have not received the 18.7.3 or 26.2 update.
Review third-party application telemetry for anomalous access patterns to photos, contacts, location, or other privacy-protected data classes.

Monitoring Recommendations

Enforce MDM compliance policies that require minimum OS versions of iOS 18.7.3 or iOS 26.2.
Restrict installation of non-curated applications through enterprise application allowlisting.
Monitor Apple's security release feed for follow-on advisories referencing the same component.

How to Mitigate CVE-2025-46311

Immediate Actions Required

Update all iPhone and iPad devices to iOS 18.7.3, iPadOS 18.7.3, iOS 26.2, or iPadOS 26.2 as appropriate for the device generation.
Push the update through MDM with a mandatory deadline for managed fleets.
Audit installed applications for unverified publishers and remove those without a clear business justification.

Patch Information

Apple released the fix in iOS 18.7.3, iPadOS 18.7.3, iOS 26.2, and iPadOS 26.2. Full remediation details are published in the Apple Security Advisory. Apply the update through Settings → General → Software Update, or through enterprise MDM channels.

Workarounds

No vendor-supplied workaround exists; applying the OS update is the only supported remediation.
Limit installation of untrusted applications on devices that cannot be updated immediately.
Revoke application permissions for sensitive data categories on at-risk devices until patching is complete.

bash

# Verify iOS/iPadOS build version on a managed device via MDM query
# Example: check that ProductVersion is at or above the fixed release
ProductVersion >= 18.7.3   # 18.x branch
ProductVersion >= 26.2     # 26.x branch