Overview
In this post, we will discuss a critical cybersecurity vulnerability found in several Apple software products, identified as CVE-2025-30466. The vulnerability allows potential attackers to bypass the Same Origin Policy (SOP) implemented in web browsers, which typically prevents scripts from accessing data on a webpage from a different origin. This bypass can lead to significant system compromise or data leakage, making it a severe threat to the security of Apple users. Given the ubiquity of Apple devices worldwide, it’s crucial for all users to understand this vulnerability and take appropriate mitigation steps.
Vulnerability Summary
CVE ID: CVE-2025-30466
Severity: Critical (CVSS Score 9.8)
Attack Vector: Network
Privileges Required: None
User Interaction: Required
Impact: Potential system compromise and data leakage
Affected Products
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Product | Affected Versions
Safari | Prior to 18.4
iOS | Prior to 18.4
iPadOS | Prior to 18.4
visionOS | Prior to 2.4
macOS Sequoia | Prior to 15.4
How the Exploit Works
The CVE-2025-30466 vulnerability exploits a flaw in the state management of the affected Apple software. The Same Origin Policy (SOP) is a crucial security concept used in web application security. It prevents a script loaded from one origin (domain, protocol, and port) from getting or setting properties of a document from a different origin.
However, due to the flawed state management, an attacker can craft a malicious website that, when visited by an unsuspecting user, could potentially execute scripts to bypass this SOP. This breach enables the attacker to access sensitive data from a different origin than the one currently being visited, leading to potential data leakage or system compromise.
Conceptual Example Code
Consider this conceptual example of how the vulnerability might be exploited. An attacker might craft a payload like this in a malicious website:
GET /vulnerable/endpoint HTTP/1.1
Host: target.example.com
<script>
// Malicious JavaScript code that takes advantage of
// the state management flaw to bypass Same Origin Policy
fetch('http://different-origin.com').then((response) => {
// Code to process response and steal data
});
</script>This code would execute when an unsuspecting user visits the malicious website, potentially leading to data theft or system compromise.
Mitigation Guidance
Given the severity of CVE-2025-30466, it is crucial to apply the vendor-supplied patch as soon as possible. Apple has addressed the issue in Safari 18.4, iOS 18.4, iPadOS 18.4, visionOS 2.4, and macOS Sequoia 15.4. Users running affected versions should update immediately.
For temporary mitigation, using a Web Application Firewall (WAF) or an Intrusion Detection System (IDS) can help detect and prevent the exploit from being successful. However, these are only temporary solutions and cannot substitute for applying the patch.