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CVE-2025-31201: Apple Multiple Products Arbitrary Read and Write Vulnerability
CVE-2025-31201 is rated critical with a CVSS v3.1 base score of 9.8 and affects Apple Multiple Products, along with 1 other product in NVD’s configuration data. Per its scoring, it can be exploited over the network, without authentication, without any user interaction. The scored impact on confidentiality, integrity and availability is the highest available. CISA added it to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog on 2025-04-17, which means exploitation in the wild has been observed.
Vulnerability description
This issue was addressed by removing the vulnerable code. This issue is fixed in iOS 18.4.1 and iPadOS 18.4.1, macOS Sequoia 15.4.1, tvOS 18.4.1, visionOS 2.4.1. An attacker with arbitrary read and write capability may be able to bypass Pointer Authentication. Apple is aware of a report that this issue may have been exploited in an extremely sophisticated attack against specific targeted individuals on iOS.
Severity breakdown
CVSS v3.1 9.8: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
- Attack vector: Network. Exploitable remotely over the network, with no need for local or physical access.
- Attack complexity: Low. No special conditions; the attack can be repeated reliably.
- Privileges required: None. No account or prior access is needed.
- User interaction: None. No action from any user is needed.
- Scope: Unchanged. Impact stays within the vulnerable component.
- Confidentiality impact: High. Total loss of confidentiality; sensitive data can be fully disclosed.
- Integrity impact: High. Total loss of integrity; data or system state can be fully modified.
- Availability impact: High. Total loss of availability; the component can be shut down.
Underlying weakness
CWE-1220: Insufficient Granularity of Access Control
The product implements access controls via a policy or other feature with the intention to disable or restrict accesses (reads and/or writes) to assets in a system from untrusted agents. However, implemented access controls lack the required granularity
Affected products
- Apple macOS: from 15.0 before 15.4.1
- Apple Tvos: before 18.4.1
- Apple Visionos: before 2.4.1
- Apple Ipados: before 18.4.1
- Apple Iphone OS: before 18.4.1
References
- https://support.apple.com/en-us/122282
- https://support.apple.com/en-us/122400
- https://support.apple.com/en-us/122401
- https://support.apple.com/en-us/122402
- http://seclists.org/fulldisclosure/2025/Apr/26
- http://seclists.org/fulldisclosure/2025/Jun/14
- http://seclists.org/fulldisclosure/2025/Oct/0
- http://seclists.org/fulldisclosure/2025/Oct/3
- http://seclists.org/fulldisclosure/2025/Oct/4
- https://github.com/JGoyd/iOS-Attack-Chain-CVE-2025-31200-CVE-2025-31201/blob/main/Remote%20Crypto%20Attack%20Chain%20.md
- https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2025-31201
- https://github.com/cisagov/vulnrichment/issues/200