CyberSecBulletin
CVE-2025-30433NVD status: Modified

iOS and iPadOS: Improper Access Control

Published Updated By the CyberSecBulletin desk

CVE-2025-30433 is a critical-severity improper access control vulnerability in iOS and iPadOS from Apple, with a CVSS 3.1 base score of 9.8 out of 10. It can be exploited remotely over the network 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 1.29% chance of exploitation within 30 days, higher than 71% of scored CVEs.

Patch this week

Critical severity: a successful attack would have severe impact.

What to do

  1. Update iOS and iPadOS to 18.4 or a later version.
  2. Update iPadOS to 17.7.6 or a later version.
  3. Update macOS to 13.7.5 or 14.7.5 or 15.4, whichever matches your release line, or a later version.
  4. Read the advisory on support.apple.com for workarounds and exact fixed builds.
  5. Until you can update, restrict network access to the affected service so it is not reachable from untrusted networks.

Affected products and versions

VendorProductAffected versionsFixed in
AppleiOS and iPadOSbefore 18.418.4
AppleiPadOSbefore 17.7.617.7.6
ApplemacOSbefore 13.7.5; before 14.7.5; before 15.413.7.5, 14.7.5, 15.4
ApplevisionOSbefore 2.42.4
ApplewatchOSbefore 11.411.4
AppleIphone OSbefore 18.418.4

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
NetworkCan be exploited remotely over a network, including the internet.
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
HighThe component can be taken down completely.

Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H. Scored by CISA (ADP).

Official description

This issue was addressed with improved access restrictions. 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, visionOS 2.4, watchOS 11.4. A shortcut may be able to access files that are normally inaccessible to the Shortcuts app.

Source: the CVE record as published by its numbering authority, via NVD and CVE.org.

The underlying weakness: Improper Access Control

The product does not restrict or incorrectly restricts access to a resource from an unauthorized actor.

How developers prevent this class of flaw

  • Very carefully manage the setting, management, and handling of privileges. Explicitly manage trust zones in the software.
  • Compartmentalize the system to have safe areas where trust boundaries can be unambiguously drawn. Do not allow sensitive data to go outside of the trust boundary and always be careful when interfacing with a compartment outside of the safe area. Ensure that appropriate compartmentalization is built into the system design, and the compartmentalization allows for and reinforces privilege separation functionality. Architects and designers should rely on the principle of least privilege to decide the appropriate time to use privileges and the time to drop privileges.

More Improper Access Control vulnerabilities (CWE-284)

Timeline

  1. CVE record published.
  2. CISA published its SSVC assessment (exploitation: none, automatable: yes, technical impact: total).
  3. Record last changed materially (score, affected products, status or references).

References

Other vulnerabilities in iOS and iPadOS

All iOS and iPadOS vulnerabilities

Recent Improper Access Control vulnerabilities

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