MS-ISAC 2025-011 Multiple Vulnerabilities in Apple Products Could Allow for Arbitrary Code Execution
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Detailed Analysis of Advisory 2025-011: Multiple Vulnerabilities in Apple Products
Issued Date: January 28, 2025
Advisory Number: 2025-011
Threat Level: High for large and medium government and business entities; Medium for small organizations; Low for home users.
Overview of the Vulnerabilities
Apple has disclosed a series of vulnerabilities affecting a wide array of its products, including operating systems like macOS, iOS, iPadOS, visionOS, watchOS, and tvOS, as well as applications such as Safari. Among these vulnerabilities, some have been classified as severe, with the potential to allow arbitrary code execution. Successful exploitation of these issues can result in attackers performing malicious actions, such as installing unauthorized software, modifying or deleting sensitive data, or even creating new user accounts with full administrative rights.
The risk posed by these vulnerabilities depends significantly on the privileges of the affected user. Users with administrative access are at the highest risk since attackers could potentially gain full control of the compromised system. On the other hand, users with limited rights may experience less severe consequences.
Particularly concerning is the report that one vulnerability, identified as CVE-2025-24085, may already have been actively exploited in the wild. This underscores the critical need for immediate attention to this advisory.
Threat Intelligence and Systems Affected
Threat Intelligence: Apple has acknowledged that CVE-2025-24085 has been actively exploited in attacks targeting earlier versions of iOS, specifically those before iOS 17.2. This adds urgency to the advisory, as exploitation in the wild typically indicates that attackers have developed reliable methods to leverage the vulnerability.
The following systems are affected by the vulnerabilities, with varying severity:
- visionOS: Versions prior to 2.3.
- iPadOS: Versions prior to 17.7.4 and 18.3.
- iOS: Versions prior to 18.3.
- macOS:
- Sequoia: Versions prior to 15.3.
- Sonoma: Versions prior to 14.7.3.
- Ventura: Versions prior to 13.7.3.
- watchOS: Versions prior to 11.3.
- tvOS: Versions prior to 18.3.
- Safari: Versions prior to 18.3.
These products collectively represent a significant portion of Apple’s ecosystem, meaning the vulnerabilities have the potential to impact millions of users worldwide.
Understanding the Technical Details
The vulnerabilities disclosed by Apple fall into several categories, with the most severe enabling arbitrary code execution, privilege escalation, and kernel memory corruption. Below is an in-depth look at some of the high-risk issues and their implications.
Arbitrary Code Execution
Arbitrary code execution vulnerabilities allow attackers to execute malicious commands or code on a targeted device. For example, CVE-2025-24137 allows a remote attacker to cause an unexpected termination of an application, creating an opportunity to execute malicious code. Similarly, CVE-2025-24159 enables applications to execute arbitrary code with kernel privileges, granting attackers deep access to the system.
Privilege Escalation
Several vulnerabilities provide avenues for privilege escalation, where attackers gain higher levels of access than originally intended. Notably, CVE-2025-24085 allows an app to elevate its privileges, which could enable the installation of unauthorized software or unauthorized access to sensitive data.
Denial-of-Service (DoS)
Some vulnerabilities, such as CVE-2025-24158, can result in denial-of-service conditions by causing unexpected system termination. These attacks may not provide direct control to attackers but can disrupt critical operations, particularly for organizations relying on Apple devices for essential functions.
Kernel Memory Corruption
Issues like CVE-2025-24154 allow attackers to corrupt kernel memory, potentially causing system crashes or enabling further exploitation. Kernel-level vulnerabilities are particularly dangerous because the kernel operates as the core of the operating system, controlling all hardware and software interactions.
Data Exposure and Unauthorized Access
A range of vulnerabilities relate to data exposure, including CVE-2025-24087, which enables an app to access protected user data, and CVE-2025-24100, which allows unauthorized access to user contact information. These vulnerabilities could lead to the theft of sensitive personal or organizational data.
Web-Based Vulnerabilities
Maliciously crafted websites can exploit vulnerabilities in Safari and related web components, such as CVE-2025-24113, which may lead to user interface spoofing, or CVE-2025-24162, which could result in unexpected application crashes when processing malicious web content.
Risk Assessment
The vulnerabilities present varying levels of risk depending on the type of entity affected. For large and medium government agencies and businesses, the risks are particularly high due to the critical nature of their operations and the volume of sensitive data they handle. Small organizations face a medium level of risk, as their systems may lack the sophisticated defenses necessary to mitigate advanced attacks. Home users are at relatively low risk, though individuals using their devices for work or financial transactions should remain cautious.
Mitigation Recommendations
Addressing the vulnerabilities promptly is essential to mitigate potential exploitation. The following steps are recommended:
1. Apply Updates Immediately
Apple has released patches for all affected products. Organizations should apply these updates as soon as possible, prioritizing critical systems. Testing the updates in a controlled environment before deployment is advisable to minimize potential disruptions.
2. Implement a Comprehensive Vulnerability Management Process
Organizations should maintain a documented vulnerability management process. This includes regular reviews, vulnerability scans, and the timely remediation of detected issues. Using SCAP-compliant tools can streamline this process.
3. Restrict Administrative Privileges
Applying the principle of least privilege can significantly reduce the impact of exploitation. Administrators should use dedicated accounts for high-level tasks and avoid performing routine activities with elevated privileges.
4. Strengthen Network Security
Blocking unauthorized websites, restricting JavaScript, and using URL filters are effective measures to minimize exposure to web-based attacks. Additionally, organizations should block the download of unnecessary file types and enforce strict email gateway policies.
5. Enable Exploit Prevention Tools
Exploit prevention features, such as Apple System Integrity Protection (SIP) and Gatekeeper, should be enabled to provide additional layers of defense. For Windows environments managing Apple devices, tools like Data Execution Prevention (DEP) may also help.
6. Conduct Regular Penetration Testing
Periodic penetration testing is critical for identifying vulnerabilities that automated tools might miss. Organizations should engage qualified third-party testers to evaluate their systems, including web applications, APIs, and hosted services.
Long-Term Security Enhancements
Organizations should adopt a proactive approach to cybersecurity by:
- Deploying host-based intrusion detection and prevention systems.
- Regularly training employees on recognizing phishing and other social engineering tactics.
- Establishing clear incident response protocols to quickly address breaches.
Conclusion
The vulnerabilities identified in Apple products represent a significant security challenge, particularly for organizations with complex IT infrastructures. By applying the recommended mitigations, organizations can reduce their risk and maintain the integrity of their systems. Given the active exploitation of at least one vulnerability, immediate action is crucial to prevent potential damages.
For additional guidance, contact the MS-ISAC SOC at [email protected] or 1-866-787-4722, or visit CISA TLP.
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