Cyber Resilience

CVE-2024-54522

Memory Safety in Apple Ipados ≤ 18.2

Memory Safety
Published
27 January 2025
Modified
02 April 2026
CVSS Score v3.1 7.8
Click a component to see what it means
Raw vectorCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
EPSS Score 0.0024 15th percentile
Risk Priority 55 floored blend · peak EPSS

Summary

CVE-2024-54522 is a high-severity Out-of-bounds Write (CWE-787) vulnerability in Apple Ipados. Its CVSS base score is 7.8 (High).

Operationally, exploitation aligns with the MITRE ATT&CK technique Exploitation for Privilege Escalation (T1068); ranked at the 15th percentile by exploit likelihood (below the median); it is not currently listed in the CISA KEV catalog.

The strongest mitigations our analysis identified map to SA-11 (Developer Testing and Evaluation) and SA-15 (Development Process, Standards, and Tools) — see the control section below for these in your framework.

Deeper analysis AI-assisted summary

Synthesised by an AI model from the NVD description and linked references — a reading aid, not an authoritative source.

CVE-2024-54522 is a memory corruption vulnerability stemming from insufficient bounds checks, classified as CWE-787 (Out-of-bounds Write). It affects Apple's iOS prior to version 18.2, iPadOS prior to 18.2, macOS Sequoia prior to 15.2, tvOS prior to 18.2, and watchOS prior to 11.2. The flaw allows an app to corrupt coprocessor memory, with a CVSS v3.1 base score of 7.8 (AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H). The vulnerability was published on 2025-01-27.

A local attacker with low privileges, such as one running a malicious app on the device, can exploit this issue with low complexity and no user interaction required. Successful exploitation enables corruption of coprocessor memory, resulting in high impacts to confidentiality, integrity, and availability.

Apple's security advisories confirm the issue was fixed with improved bounds checks in iOS 18.2 and iPadOS 18.2, macOS Sequoia 15.2, tvOS 18.2, and watchOS 11.2. Mitigation involves updating affected devices to these versions or later, as detailed in the following support pages: https://support.apple.com/en-us/121837, https://support.apple.com/en-us/121839, https://support.apple.com/en-us/121843, and https://support.apple.com/en-us/121844.

EU & UK References

Vulnerability Data

The issue was addressed with improved bounds checks. This issue is fixed in iOS 18.2 and iPadOS 18.2, macOS Sequoia 15.2, tvOS 18.2, watchOS 11.2. An app may be able to corrupt coprocessor memory.

CWE(s)
CWE-787

Related Threats

MITRE ATT&CK Enterprise Techniques

T1068 Exploitation for Privilege Escalation Privilege Escalation
Adversaries may exploit software vulnerabilities in an attempt to elevate privileges.
attack.mitre.org →
T1190 Exploit Public-Facing Application Initial Access
Adversaries may attempt to exploit a weakness in an Internet-facing host or system to initially access a network.
attack.mitre.org →
T1203 Exploitation for Client Execution Execution
Adversaries may exploit software vulnerabilities in client applications to execute code.
attack.mitre.org →
T1210 Exploitation of Remote Services Lateral Movement
Adversaries may exploit remote services to gain unauthorized access to internal systems once inside of a network.
attack.mitre.org →
T1211 Exploitation for Stealth Stealth
Adversaries may exploit vulnerabilities to evade detection by hiding activity, suppressing logging, or operating within trusted or unmonitored components.
attack.mitre.org →
T1212 Exploitation for Credential Access Credential Access
Adversaries may exploit software vulnerabilities in an attempt to collect credentials.
attack.mitre.org →
Derived from this CVE’s CWE(s) via the direct CWE→ATT&CK cross-walk.

CVEs Like This One

CVE-2023-23519Same product: Apple Ipados
CVE-2022-22675Same product: Apple Ipados
CVE-2023-35984Same product: Apple Ipados
CVE-2023-23504Same product: Apple Ipados
CVE-2023-27933Same product: Apple Ipados
CVE-2021-30665Same product: Apple Ipados
CVE-2021-30883Same product: Apple Ipados
CVE-2023-38604Same product: Apple Ipados
CVE-2024-54523Same product: Apple Ipados
CVE-2024-54517Same product: Apple Ipados

Affected Assets

apple
ipados
≤ 18.2
apple
iphone os
≤ 18.2
apple
macos
≤ 15.2
apple
tvos
≤ 18.2
apple
watchos
≤ 11.2

Mitigating Controls

Mitigating Controls (NIST 800-53 r5) AI

SA-11 Developer Testing and Evaluation good match

Developer testing and evaluation (including fuzzing and bounds checks) finds out-of-bounds write flaws before deployment.

SA-15 Development Process, Standards, and Tools partial match

Requiring documented secure-development standards and tools can mandate bounds-checked coding practices that avoid the weakness.

SI-10 Information Input Validation partial match

Input validation can structurally reject or sanitize data that would otherwise trigger an out-of-bounds write.

SI-16 Memory Protection partial match

Memory-protection mechanisms limit the exploitability and blast radius of a successful out-of-bounds write.

Mitigating Controls (NIST CSF 2.0) AI

Derived directly from the weakness types (CWEs) cited in the NVD entry via our AI-authored CWE→CSF cross-walk (authority under review) — links open the control.

PR.PS-06 mostly match
prevents

Secure-development practices (static analysis, bounds checking, code review) are the primary means of preventing out-of-bounds writes.

ID.RA-01 partial match
prevents

Vulnerability scanning and recording can discover out-of-bounds write flaws so they can be remediated.

PR.PS-02 partial match
prevents

Patching or replacing vulnerable software directly eliminates known instances of this coding weakness.

Mitigating Controls (ISO/IEC 27001:2022 Annex A) AI

Derived directly from the weakness types (CWEs) cited in the NVD entry via our AI-authored CWE→ISO cross-walk (authority under review) — links open the control.

A.8.29 Security testing in development and acceptance mostly match
finds

Security testing in development and acceptance can detect and prevent out-of-bounds write defects.

A.8.25 Secure development life cycle partial match
prevents

Secure development life cycle mandates practices that prevent out-of-bounds writes.

A.8.26 Application security requirements partial match
prevents

Application security requirements can specify bounds-checking and safe memory handling.

A.8.27 Secure system architecture and engineering principles partial match
prevents

Secure architecture and engineering principles reduce the likelihood of buffer overflows.

A.8.28 Secure coding partial match
prevents

Secure coding directly addresses out-of-bounds writes through language choice and coding standards.

A.8.32 Change management partial match
prevents

Change management can enforce review gates that catch unsafe memory operations before deployment.

References