Apple iOS, macOS, and iPadOS Remote Code Execution Vulnerability (CVE-2025-31200) Security Advisory
Executive & SecOps Summary
SECOPS ASSESSMENTApple iOS and iPadOS prior to 18.4.1, macOS Sequoia prior to 15.4.1, tvOS prior to 18.4.1, visionOS prior to 2.4.1, and watchOS prior to 11.5
Processing a maliciously crafted media file containing an audio stream may lead to arbitrary remote code execution (RCE) on the target system
Immediately apply the official software updates provided by Apple to patch the vulnerability
Affected Products & Version Scope
Remediation & Live Workaround Commands
PATCH & WORKAROUND1. Official Patch & Version Upgrade Commands
Apply the official updates via the system settings on your Apple devices. For macOS enterprise environments, administrators can force the update via the command-line interface:
# List available software updates
softwareupdate -l
# Download and install all critical updates and restart immediately
sudo softwareupdate -i -a --restart2. Temporary Workaround & Hardening Configuration
If immediate patching is not feasible, use MDM policies to restrict automatic media downloads. On macOS, disable Safari's feature that automatically opens downloaded files to reduce the attack surface:
# Disable automatic opening of 'safe' files in Safari
defaults write com.apple.Safari AutoOpenSafeDownloads -bool false3. Log Audit & IoC Verification Commands
Run the following command to audit the current operating system version and verify if the system is running a vulnerable version:
# Check the current macOS version and build details
echo '[*] Auditing macOS System Version...'
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Technical Root Cause & Exploitation Mechanics
1. Vulnerability Overview & Root Cause
This vulnerability (CVE-2025-31200) is a critical memory corruption issue residing in Apple's media processing engine. The root cause is insufficient bounds checking when parsing and processing audio streams within media files, allowing attackers to trigger memory corruption.
2. Exploitation Mechanics & Attack Scenario
An attacker crafts a malicious media file containing a specifically structured audio stream. When a target user opens the file, or when the system automatically processes it (e.g., via thumbnail generation or preview features), the vulnerable parsing library is triggered. This leads to out-of-bounds memory access, enabling the attacker to hijack the execution flow and run arbitrary code.
3. Infrastructure & Business Impact
With a CVSS score of 9.8 and active exploitation confirmed in the wild (CISA KEV listed), this vulnerability poses an extreme risk. Successful exploitation allows complete device compromise, potentially leading to unauthorized access to sensitive corporate data, credential theft, and lateral movement within enterprise networks.
Official Vendor Advisories & References
A memory corruption issue was addressed with improved bounds checking. 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, watchOS 11.5. Processing an audio stream in a maliciously crafted media file may result in code execution. Apple is aware of a report that this issue may have been exploited in an extremely sophisticated attack against specific targeted individuals on versions of iOS released before iOS 18.4.1.
Frequently Asked SecOps Questions (CVE-2025-31200)
FAQQ1. How critical is CVE-2025-31200 and is it actively exploited in the wild?
CVE-2025-31200 is rated CVSS 9.8 (CRITICAL) with a 30-day EPSS exploitation probability of 20.9%. It is listed in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog, requiring immediate emergency remediation.
Q2. Which vendors and products are affected by CVE-2025-31200?
Primary impacted vendors include apple across ios, ipados, macos, tvos, visionos, watchos. Scope summary: iOS < 18.4.1, iPadOS < 18.4.1, macOS Sequoia < 15.4.1, tvOS < 18.4.1, visionOS < 2.4.1, watchOS < 11.5
Q3. What temporary mitigations or workarounds exist for CVE-2025-31200 before patching?
[Mitigation] Immediately apply the official software updates provided by Apple to patch the vulnerability Follow the CLI remediation commands and interactive SecOps checklist on this page to restrict exposure prior to your maintenance window.
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