CVE-2025-31201
Published: 16 April 2025
Summary
CVE-2025-31201 is a critical-severity Insufficient Granularity of Access Control (CWE-1220) vulnerability in Apple Macos. Its CVSS base score is 9.8 (Critical).
Operationally, ranked in the top 12.4% of CVEs by exploit likelihood; CISA has added it to the Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog; a public proof-of-concept is referenced.
The strongest mitigations our analysis identified are NIST 800-53 SI-16 (Memory Protection) and AC-3 (Access Enforcement).
Deeper analysis
CVE-2025-31201 is a pointer authentication bypass vulnerability caused by the presence of flawed code in multiple Apple operating systems. The affected platforms include iOS 18.4 and earlier, iPadOS 18.4 and earlier, macOS Sequoia 15.4 and earlier, tvOS 18.4 and earlier, and visionOS 2.4 and earlier. The issue was resolved by removing the vulnerable code in the 18.4.1/15.4.1 point releases.
An attacker who already possesses arbitrary read and write primitives can leverage the flaw to bypass pointer authentication protections. This capability could be used to subvert memory safety mechanisms and potentially achieve elevated code execution on the device. Apple has stated that it is aware of reporting indicating the vulnerability was used in an extremely sophisticated, targeted attack against specific individuals on iOS.
Apple security advisories direct users to install the updates iOS 18.4.1, iPadOS 18.4.1, macOS Sequoia 15.4.1, tvOS 18.4.1, and visionOS 2.4.1, which are available through the standard software update mechanisms on each platform. The corresponding support documents are published at the listed Apple URLs.
EU & UK References
- 🇪🇺 ENISA EUVD: EUVD-2025-11381
Vulnerability details
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…
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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.
- CWE(s)
- KEV Date Added
- 17 April 2025
Related Threats
No named actor attribution yet. ATT&CK technique mapping in progress for this CVE.
Affected Assets
Mitigating Controls
Mitigating Controls (NIST 800-53 r5) AI
Directly implements and enforces memory protections such as Pointer Authentication that the CVE bypasses when arbitrary read/write primitives exist.
Isolates security functions (including pointer authentication enforcement) from untrusted code, limiting the impact of memory corruption that leads to PAC bypass.
Enforces access-control decisions on memory regions, reducing the chance an attacker can obtain or exercise the arbitrary read/write primitives required to exploit the flaw.