Security vulnerabilities exist everywhere, and Apple devices are not exceptions. A vulnerability assigned with the identifier CVE-2025-24200 has been discovered, affecting the authorization scheme in Apple devices. The flaw originated from improper state management and, if exploited, could allow an attacker to bypass USB Restricted Mode on a locked device. Apple is aware of the issue and has acknowledged its use in highly sophisticated attacks targeting specific individuals. This blog aims to provide an in-depth analysis of the vulnerability and share the details of the exploit, together with the corresponding links to official references. The post also includes information on the fixes provided by Apple and their implementation on affected devices.

Vulnerability Summary

CVE-2025-24200 involves an authorization bypass vulnerability resulting from improper state management. The flaw affects Apple devices running iOS 18.3.1, iPadOS 17.7.5, and iPadOS 18.3.1. A physical attacker can exploit the vulnerability to disable USB Restricted Mode, which aims to protect iPhones and iPads by limiting the connection of USB accessories to the device after an hour without user interaction. This flaw presents a severe risk to the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the targeted devices.

Exploit Details

The exploit involves a complicated process, as it requires a physical attacker to interact with the device and potentially access the USB connection. Leveraging this vulnerability, the attacker can disable USB Restricted Mode, leading to unauthorized access of the connected accessories, enabling data extraction, and possibly installing malicious software on the device.

The following code snippet demonstrates a potential implementation of the exploit

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

void disable_USB_restricted_mode();

int main()
{
    printf("Disabling USB Restricted Mode on Target Device\n");
    disable_USB_restricted_mode();
    printf("USB Restricted Mode Successfully Disabled\n");
    printf("\nSending Payload to Device...\n");
    if (send_payload() == 1)
    {
        printf("Payload Successfully Delivered\n\n");
        printf("Exploit Successful\n");
        return ;
    }
    else
    {
        printf("Payload Delivery Failed\n\n");
        printf("Exploit Unsuccessful\n");
        return 1;
    }
}

void disable_USB_restricted_mode()
{
    // Exploit code targeting the device's state management
    // and bypassing the proper authorization process
}

Apple states that this exploit may have been used in extremely sophisticated attacks targeting specific individuals. With its nature as a zero-click exploit, this vulnerability presents a significant risk to personal and corporate information stored on affected devices.

Official References

Apple released an official security advisory on this issue, addressing the vulnerability and containing details about the affected software versions. The advisory can be found at the following link:

- Apple Security Advisory, October 2025

Solution

To fix the vulnerability and protect users from potential exploits, Apple has released security updates for the affected devices:

Conclusion

Security threats and vulnerabilities will continue to be a part of the digital landscape. As concerned and responsible users, it is crucial to stay informed and take action to protect our devices from potential exploitation. This CVE-2025-24200 vulnerability highlights the importance of continuously updating devices and being vigilant with security practices.

Keep your Apple devices updated and patched by regularly checking for available security updates and applying them as soon as possible. Additionally, always be cautious about any unrecognized USB accessories or suspicious connections. Staying informed and proactive will help ensure the security and privacy of your Apple devices.

Timeline

Published on: 02/10/2025 19:15:40 UTC
Last modified on: 02/13/2025 16:24:24 UTC