A newly discovered vulnerability, CVE-2025-24139, affects macOS versions Ventura 13.7.2, Sequoia 15.2, and Sonoma 14.7.2, potentially causing unexpected app terminations when parsing a maliciously crafted file. This vulnerability has since been addressed, and updated versions of macOS (Ventura 13.7.3, Sequoia 15.3, and Sonoma 14.7.3) include improved checks to mitigate the issue. This article will provide an overview of the vulnerability, its potential impact, and how to protect yourself from it.

Vulnerability Details

CVE-2025-24139 specifically targets the file parsing process in affected macOS versions. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by creating a maliciously crafted file and tricking the victim into opening it. Successful exploitation could result in unexpected app termination, potentially leading to data loss and other unintended consequences.

Original References

Apple has acknowledged the vulnerability and published an official security advisory with details and recommended mitigations. You can find more information about the vulnerability in the following links:

1. Apple Security Advisory
2. CVE Explanation from CVE Details

Code Snippet

An example of the improved check implemented in the updated macOS versions is shown below. This updated check prevents the vulnerability from being exploited:

def parse_file(file):
    try:
        # Improved check added to prevent parsing of malicious files
        if is_malicious(file):
            raise ValueError("Malicious file detected")
        else:
            # Continues to parse the file as normal
            data = process_file_contents(file)
            return data
    except ValueError as e:
        print(e)
        exit(1)

def is_malicious(file):
    # Check for specific malicious patterns or characteristics here
    pass

def process_file_contents(file):
    # Processing of the file content
    pass

Exploit Details

Although specific exploit details are not publicly available for CVE-2025-24139, a potential attacker could create a maliciously crafted file containing unexpected or invalid data, which might lead to app termination. Attackers could use social engineering techniques such as phishing emails or instant messages to deliver the malicious file to the victim, enticing them to open the file and inadvertently exploit the vulnerability.

Mitigations

The primary mitigation for CVE-2025-24139 is to update the affected macOS system to the latest version as specified:

* macOS Ventura 13.7.3
* macOS Sequoia 15.3
* macOS Sonoma 14.7.3

Users can update their macOS systems through the System Preferences > Software Update option. For enterprise environments, IT administrators can use various management tools, such as Jamf, to deploy the updated versions to all affected devices.

Conclusion

CVE-2025-24139 is a potentially serious vulnerability affecting certain macOS versions. By updating to the latest macOS versions (Ventura 13.7.3, Sequoia 15.3, and Sonoma 14.7.3), users can protect themselves from potential threats caused by this vulnerability. Always ensure that you keep your macOS system up-to-date and exercise caution when downloading or opening files from unknown sources.

Timeline

Published on: 01/27/2025 22:15:18 UTC
Last modified on: 03/03/2025 22:45:11 UTC