Overview
A serious cybersecurity vulnerability, designated as CVE-2025-31223, has been identified across a range of Apple platforms. The flaw resides in the way these platforms process web content, with the potential to cause memory corruption if manipulated by maliciously crafted content. The exploit has a broad sphere of impact, affecting users of watchOS 11.5, tvOS 18.5, iOS 18.5, iPadOS 18.5, macOS Sequoia 15.5, visionOS 2.5, and Safari 18.5. Being a high severity issue with a CVSS score of 8.0, the vulnerability can potentially lead to system compromise and data leakage, representing a significant risk to user privacy and security.
Vulnerability Summary
CVE ID: CVE-2025-31223
Severity: High (CVSS 8.0)
Attack Vector: Network (Web content)
Privileges Required: None
User Interaction: Required
Impact: System compromise and data leakage
Affected Products
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Product | Affected Versions
watchOS | 11.5
tvOS | 18.5
iOS | 18.5
iPadOS | 18.5
macOS Sequoia | 15.5
visionOS | 2.5
Safari | 18.5
How the Exploit Works
The vulnerability lies in the way the affected Apple platforms handle web content. When processing a maliciously crafted web page, it may lead to memory corruption. An attacker can exploit this flaw by inducing a user to visit a manipulated webpage. Successful exploitation of this vulnerability potentially allows an attacker to execute arbitrary code, leading to system compromise or data leakage.
Conceptual Example Code
Below is a conceptual representation of how the vulnerability might be exploited using a crafted HTTP request. Note that this is a simplified illustration and actual exploits may be more complex.
GET /malicious/webpage.html HTTP/1.1
Host: attacker.example.com
{ "malicious_script": "<script>malicious_code</script>" }In the example, a user is tricked into visiting a webpage hosted by the attacker. The webpage contains a script that triggers the memory corruption vulnerability, leading to potential system compromise and data leakage.
To protect your systems from this vulnerability, it is highly recommended to apply the vendor patch as soon as possible. If immediate patching is not feasible, using a Web Application Firewall (WAF) or Intrusion Detection System (IDS) can serve as a temporary mitigation measure.