Actively exploited vulnerability

Apple iOS and iPadOS: improper access control flaw under attack

CVE-2025-24200 · Apple iOS and iPadOS Incorrect Authorization Vulnerability

Concerns everyone who uses it6.1 medium

What is affected

Apple iOS and iPadOS is found on ordinary personal computers and phones, so this is not only a problem for companies. If you use it and have not updated since the fix was released, you are exposed.

Apple iOS and iPadOS contains an incorrect authorization vulnerability that allows a physical attacker to disable USB Restricted Mode on a locked device.

CISA's description

What an attacker can do

This is a improper access control flaw. It lets an attacker perform actions or reach data that should be restricted to authorised users.

How it is reached
Needs physical access
Access the attacker needs
No account needed
Does the victim have to do something?
No, works without the victim doing anything

What to do

  1. Update Apple iOS and iPadOS now. Open the update or "About" screen, install whatever is offered and restart the app or device, because the fix is not active until you do.
  2. Turn on automatic updates so the next fix arrives without you having to look for it.
  3. If your device is too old to receive this update, stop using the affected app for anything sensitive and plan a replacement.

Apply mitigations per vendor instructions or discontinue use of the product if mitigations are unavailable.

Action required by CISA for US federal agencies

Vendor advisories and fixes

How urgent is it

CISA added this vulnerability to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalogue on February 12, 2025, which means there is reliable evidence of attacks in the wild. US federal agencies must fix it by March 5, 2025, a deadline that has already passed. That deadline does not bind anyone else, but it shows how seriously the agency rates it.

The EPSS model estimates a 4.4% probability that this flaw will be exploited somewhere in the next 30 days. That is higher than 91% of all scored vulnerabilities.

Its CVSS severity score is 6.1 out of 10 (medium), as recorded in the US National Vulnerability Database.

Technical description

An authorization issue was addressed with improved state management. This issue is fixed in iOS 15.8.4 and iPadOS 15.8.4, iOS 16.7.11 and iPadOS 16.7.11, iOS 18.3.1 and iPadOS 18.3.1, iPadOS 17.7.5. A physical attack may disable USB Restricted Mode on a locked device. Apple is aware of a report that this issue may have been exploited in an extremely sophisticated attack against specific targeted individuals.

NIST National Vulnerability Database
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