Overview
The cybersecurity landscape is continually evolving, and new vulnerabilities are discovered daily. One such vulnerability that has gained notable attention is CVE-2025-31222. This vulnerability is a security issue that affects several Apple operating systems, including watchOS, macOS, tvOS, iOS, and iPadOS. The vulnerability pertains to a correctness issue that, if exploited, can allow a user to elevate their privileges, potentially leading to system compromise or data leakage. Given the wide range of devices and systems affected by this vulnerability, it poses a significant risk to numerous users worldwide.
Vulnerability Summary
CVE ID: CVE-2025-31222
Severity: High (CVSS: 7.8)
Attack Vector: Local
Privileges Required: Low
User Interaction: Required
Impact: System compromise and data leakage
Affected Products
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Product | Affected Versions
watchOS | 11.5
macOS Sonoma | 14.7.6
tvOS | 18.5
iOS | 18.5
iPadOS | 18.5
macOS Sequoia | 15.5
visionOS | 2.5
macOS Ventura | 13.7.6
How the Exploit Works
The vulnerability stems from a correctness issue within the affected operating systems. In essence, the systems are lacking in proper checks and balances that would prevent privilege escalation. A malicious user, with low-level privileges, can exploit this weakness to elevate their access rights. This increased access can then be leveraged to compromise the system or exfiltrate sensitive data.
Conceptual Example Code
Below is a conceptual example of the vulnerability exploitation. It represents a scenario where a malicious user might use a specific command to elevate their privileges:
$ echo 'echo "$(whoami) ALL=(ALL) NOPASSWD:ALL" >&3' | sudo tee /etc/sudoers.d/$(whoami)In this hypothetical example, the user is modifying the sudoers file to grant themselves root-level privileges without needing to enter a password. This is merely illustrative and does not represent the actual exploit of CVE-2025-31222.
Mitigation and Prevention
The most effective way to mitigate this vulnerability is by applying the vendor-provided patch. Apple has addressed the issue in the following OS versions: watchOS 11.5, macOS Sonoma 14.7.6, tvOS 18.5, iOS 18.5, iPadOS 18.5, macOS Sequoia 15.5, visionOS 2.5, and macOS Ventura 13.7.6. Updating to these versions will neutralize the risk associated with this vulnerability.
In instances where immediate patching is not possible, the use of a Web Application Firewall (WAF) or Intrusion Detection System (IDS) can serve as a temporary mitigation measure. These tools can monitor and block suspicious activities related to privilege escalation. However, they should not serve as a permanent solution since they do not address the underlying vulnerability.