CVE-2025-24149: Out-of-Bounds Read Addressed with Improved Bounds Checking

A recently discovered security vulnerability, CVE-2025-24149, has a critical impact on multiple Apple devices and operating systems, potentially leading to the disclosure of sensitive user information. The flaw lies in the improper handling of bounds checking when parsing files. Apple has now patched this vulnerability in several software updates, including iPadOS 17.7.4, macOS Ventura 13.7.3, macOS Sonoma 14.7.3, visionOS 2.3, iOS 18.3 and iPadOS 18.3, macOS Sequoia 15.3, watchOS 11.3, and tvOS 18.3.

In this article, we will delve deeper into the technical details of this vulnerability, examine sample code snippets, provide links to original references, and discuss the exploitation techniques associated with it.

CVE-2025-24149: Technical Details

The crux of this vulnerability lies in an out-of-bounds (OOB) read error, which occurs when a program reads data from a memory location outside the allocated bounds for the intended object. This can lead to the disclosure of user information or sometimes even crash the application. The precise issue involves the failure to perform proper bounds checking while parsing specific file formats.

Code Snippet

Let's consider a simplified version of the vulnerable code for illustrative purposes.

#include <stdio.h>
#include <stdlib.h>
#include <string.h>

void parse_file(char *file_data, size_t data_size) {
    size_t i;
    for (i = ; i < data_size; i++) {
        // Process the file data
    }
}

int main(int argc, char *argv[]) {
    char *file_data;
    size_t file_size;

    if (argc < 2) {
        printf("Usage: %s <file_to_parse>\n", argv[]);
        return 1;
    }

    // Read file to memory...

    parse_file(file_data, file_size);

    free(file_data);
    return ;
}

In this example, the function parse_file processes the data from the given file, iterating through each byte in the loop. However, the loop does not perform any bounds checking, leading to a vulnerability where an attacker can spoof the data_size parameter. This can cause OOB access, potentially exposing sensitive user information.

Exploit Details

An attacker can exploit CVE-2025-24149 by crafting a malicious file that contains a spoofed data_size value, causing the application to perform an OOB read. This allows the attacker to gather sensitive user data, potentially leading to unauthorized access or information disclosure. Users of vulnerable devices should immediately update their systems to the latest software versions provided by Apple to mitigate this flaw.

Apple: Security Updates for Apple Products

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT213053

MITRE CVE Details - CVE-2025-24149

https://cve.mitre.org/cgi-bin/cvename.cgi?name=CVE-2025-24149

NIST National Vulnerability Database (NVD): CVE-2025-24149

https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2025-24149

Conclusion

CVE-2025-24149 is a significant vulnerability that affects a wide range of Apple products, and it's essential for users to apply the latest software updates to protect their devices from potential attacks. Apple has already provided patches in various software versions to address this issue. By staying informed about security vulnerabilities and applying updates promptly, users can minimize the risk of falling victim to cyberattacks.

Timeline

Published on: 01/27/2025 22:15:19 UTC
Last modified on: 03/03/2025 22:45:11 UTC