Apple Multiple Products Arbitrary Read and Write
CVE-2025-31201 is a critical-severity insufficient granularity of 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 18.4.1 as the first without the flaw, so updating iOS and iPadOS to that release or later removes the exposure. CISA added it to the Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalogue on April 17, 2025, which means attacks have been observed in the wild.
Attackers are already exploiting this vulnerability, according to CISA.
What to do
- Update iOS and iPadOS to 18.4.1 or a later version.
- Update macOS to 15.4.1 or a later version.
- Update tvOS to 18.4.1 or a later version.
- CISA's required action: Apply mitigations per vendor instructions, follow applicable BOD 22-01 guidance for cloud services, or discontinue use of the product if mitigations are unavailable.
- Read the advisory on support.apple.com for workarounds and exact fixed builds.
- Until you can update, restrict network access to the affected service so it is not reachable from untrusted networks.
Affected products and versions
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apple | iOS and iPadOS | before 18.4.1 | 18.4.1 |
| Apple | macOS | before 15.4.1 | 15.4.1 |
| Apple | tvOS | before 18.4.1 | 18.4.1 |
| Apple | visionOS | before 2.4.1 | 2.4.1 |
| Apple | iPadOS | before 18.4.1 | 18.4.1 |
| Apple | Iphone OS | before 18.4.1 | 18.4.1 |
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 by removing the vulnerable code. This issue is fixed in iOS 18.4.1 and iPadOS 18.4.1, macOS Sequoia 15.4.1, tvOS 18.4.1, visionOS 2.4.1. An attacker with arbitrary read and write capability may be able to bypass Pointer Authentication. Apple is aware of a report that this issue may have been exploited in an extremely sophisticated attack against specific targeted individuals on iOS.
Source: the CVE record as published by its numbering authority, via NVD and CVE.org.
The underlying weakness: Insufficient Granularity of Access Control
The product implements access controls via a policy or other feature with the intention to disable or restrict accesses (reads and/or writes) to assets in a system from untrusted agents. However, implemented access controls lack the required granularity
How developers prevent this class of flaw
- Access-control-policy protections must be reviewed for design inconsistency and common weaknesses. Access-control-policy definition and programming flow must be tested in pre-silicon, post-silicon testing.
More Insufficient Granularity of Access Control vulnerabilities (CWE-1220)
Timeline
- CVE record published.
- Added to CISA's Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalogue.
- Deadline for US federal agencies to remediate, set by CISA.
- CISA published its SSVC assessment (exploitation: active, automatable: yes, technical impact: total).
- Record last changed materially (score, affected products, status or references).
References
Advisories
- support.apple.com/en-us/122282Release Notes
- support.apple.com/en-us/122400Release Notes
- support.apple.com/en-us/122401Release Notes
- support.apple.com/en-us/122402Release Notes
Third-party and government advisories
- seclists.org/fulldisclosure/2025/Apr/26Mailing List, Third Party Advisory
- seclists.org/fulldisclosure/2025/Jun/14Mailing List, Third Party Advisory
- seclists.org/fulldisclosure/2025/Oct/0Mailing List, Third Party Advisory
- seclists.org/fulldisclosure/2025/Oct/3Mailing List, Third Party Advisory
- seclists.org/fulldisclosure/2025/Oct/4Mailing List, Third Party Advisory
- cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2025-31201US Government Resource
Other references
- github.com/cisagov/vulnrichment/issues/200Issue Tracking
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 Insufficient Granularity of Access Control vulnerabilities
- 8.8 High severity
- 7.4 High severity
- 7.8 High severity
- 7.5 High severity
- 7.5 High severity
- 8.1 High severity
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