iOS and iPadOS: Authentication Bypass Using an Alternate Path or Channel
CVE-2025-24206 is a high-severity authentication bypass using an alternate path or channel vulnerability in iOS and iPadOS from Apple, with a CVSS 3.1 base score of 7.7 out of 10. It can be exploited with local access to the system by an unauthenticated attacker, without any action from a user. The record lists version 18.4 as the first without the flaw, so updating iOS and iPadOS to that release or later removes the exposure. There is no confirmed exploitation so far. EPSS estimates a 0.36% chance of exploitation within 30 days, which is low compared with other CVEs.
High severity with no evidence of exploitation so far.
What to do
- Update iOS and iPadOS to 18.4 or a later version.
- Update iPadOS to 17.7.6 or a later version.
- Update macOS to 13.7.5 or 14.7.5 or 15.4, whichever matches your release line, or a later version.
- Read the advisory on support.apple.com for workarounds and exact fixed builds.
Affected products and versions
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apple | iOS and iPadOS | before 18.4 | 18.4 |
| Apple | iPadOS | before 17.7.6 | 17.7.6 |
| Apple | macOS | before 13.7.5; before 14.7.5; before 15.4 | 13.7.5, 14.7.5, 15.4 |
| Apple | tvOS | before 18.4 | 18.4 |
| Apple | visionOS | before 2.4 | 2.4 |
| Apple | Iphone OS | before 18.4 | 18.4 |
Version data comes from the organisation that assigned the CVE. Confirm against the vendor advisory before deciding you are unaffected.
How the severity score breaks down
- Attack vector
- LocalThe attacker needs local access or must trick a user into running something.
- Attack complexity
- LowNo special conditions are needed; the attack works reliably.
- Privileges required
- NoneNo account or login is needed.
- User interaction
- NoneNo action by a victim is required.
- Scope
- UnchangedImpact stays within the vulnerable component.
- Confidentiality
- HighAll data handled by the component can be read.
- Integrity
- HighData or code can be modified at will.
- Availability
- NoneAvailability is not affected.
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N. Scored by CISA (ADP).
Official description
An authentication issue was addressed with improved state management. This issue is fixed in iOS 18.4 and iPadOS 18.4, iPadOS 17.7.6, macOS Sequoia 15.4, macOS Sonoma 14.7.5, macOS Ventura 13.7.5, tvOS 18.4, visionOS 2.4. An attacker on the local network may be able to bypass authentication policy.
Source: the CVE record as published by its numbering authority, via NVD and CVE.org.
The underlying weakness: Authentication Bypass Using an Alternate Path or Channel
The product requires authentication, but the product has an alternate path or channel that does not require authentication.
How developers prevent this class of flaw
- Funnel all access through a single choke point to simplify how users can access a resource. For every access, perform a check to determine if the user has permissions to access the resource.
More Authentication Bypass Using an Alternate Path or Channel vulnerabilities (CWE-288)
Timeline
- CVE record published.
- CISA published its SSVC assessment (exploitation: none, automatable: no, technical impact: total).
- Record last changed materially (score, affected products, status or references).
References
Advisories
- support.apple.com/en-us/122371Release Notes
- support.apple.com/en-us/122372Release Notes
- support.apple.com/en-us/122373Release Notes
- support.apple.com/en-us/122374Release Notes
- support.apple.com/en-us/122375Release Notes
- support.apple.com/en-us/122377Release Notes
- support.apple.com/en-us/122378Release Notes
Other vulnerabilities in iOS and iPadOS
- 8.8 High severity
- 7.5 High severity
- 7.5 High severity
- 7.5 High severity
- 7.5 High severity
- 7.5 High severity
Recent Authentication Bypass Using an Alternate Path or Channel vulnerabilities
- 9.2 Critical severity
- 7.2 High severity
- 9.8 Critical severity
- 9.8 Critical severity
- 8.8 High severity
- 7.6 High severity
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