CVE-2024-23225
CVE-2024-23225 is a security flaw in Apple devices, the software on Apple’s iPhones, iPads and Macs. Attackers can corrupt memory in Apple devices, which they use to take it over. The US Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) added it to its catalog of flaws known to be used in attacks on 6 Mar 2024.[1]
Apple devices is in things households have, such as phones, computers, browsers and everyday apps, so the fix matters at home as much as at work. Fixed in version 16.7.6, 17.4, 12.7.4 and 13.6.5 and others.
Description
CISA calls it a memory corruption in Apple Multiple Products. In its words: “Apple iOS, iPadOS, macOS, tvOS, watchOS, and visionOS kernel contain a memory corruption vulnerability that allows an attacker with arbitrary kernel read and write capability to bypass kernel memory protections.”[1]
The CVE record adds: “A memory corruption issue was addressed with improved validation. This issue is fixed in iOS 16.7.6 and iPadOS 16.7.6, iOS 17.4 and iPadOS 17.4, macOS Monterey 12.7.4, macOS Sonoma 14.4, macOS Ventura 13.6.5, tvOS 17.4, visionOS 1.1, watchOS 10.4. An attacker with arbitrary kernel read and write capability may be able to bypass kernel memory protections. Apple is aware of a report that this issue may have been exploited.”[2]
The underlying weakness is out-of-bounds write (CWE-787), in MITRE’s list of common software weaknesses.
It scores 7.8 out of 10 on the Common Vulnerability Scoring System, which rates it high, scored by NVD using CVSS 3.1.[2]
Affected versions
NVD’s record lists these fixed versions: in each line, everything before the version shown is affected.[2]
| Product | Fixed in |
|---|---|
| iOS and iPadOS | 16.7.6 |
| iOS and iPadOS | 17.4 |
| macOS | 12.7.4 |
| macOS | 13.6.5 |
| macOS | 14.4 |
| tvOS | 17.4 |
| visionOS | 1.1 |
| watchOS | 10.4 |
Every device with Apple devices needs the update.
Exploitation
CISA added it to its catalog of known exploited vulnerabilities on 6 Mar 2024, within a day of it being made public. CISA lists a flaw only when it has reliable evidence of it being exploited, and gave US federal agencies until 27 Mar 2024 to fix it.[1]
FIRST’s Exploit Prediction Scoring System, which estimates how likely a flaw is to be used in attacks in the next 30 days from what it sees across the internet, puts it at 1%. That’s in the top 27% of the flaws it scores.[4]
CISA assesses it as not automatable: each attack takes some work.
CISA doesn’t say who was attacked, or how.
Fix
Apple has published a fix or advice.[3] CISA’s required action: “Apply mitigations per vendor instructions or discontinue use of the product if mitigations are unavailable.”[1]
- Update Apple devices now.On iPhone and iPad: Settings, General, Software Update. On a Mac: System Settings, General, Software Update. Install it on every Apple device in the house. Then turn on automatic updates, so the next fix arrives on its own.
- Check you’re on 16.7.6 or later.Fixed in version 16.7.6, 17.4, 12.7.4 and 13.6.5 and others. Anything older is what attackers are going after.
- If there’s no update, stop using it.CISA’s advice when a flaw being used in attacks has no fix is to stop using the product until it does.
Timeline
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| The flaw is made public in the National Vulnerability Database, with a severity score of 7.8.[2] | |
| CISA adds it to its catalog of flaws known to be used in attacks.[1] | |
| CISA’s deadline for US government agencies to fix it.[1] | |
| FIRST puts the odds of it being used in attacks in the next 30 days at 1%.[4] |
See also
Other Apple devices flaws
- CVE-2026-86950: out-of-bounds write ·
- CVE-2025-43520: classic buffer overflow ·
- CVE-2025-43510: improper locking ·
- CVE-2025-31277: buffer overflow ·
- CVE-2023-43000: use-after-free ·
- CVE-2021-30952: integer overflow or wraparound ·
Other out-of-bounds write flaws
- CVE-2026-53266, Linux Kernel: out-of-bounds write ·
- CVE-2026-87491, Chrome and other Chromium browsers: out of bounds write ·
- CVE-2026-53362, Linux Kernel: unspecified ·
- CVE-2022-0995, Linux Kernel: out-of-bounds write ·
- CVE-2026-11645, Chrome and other Chromium browsers: out-of-bounds read and write ·
Added the same day
- CVE-2024-23296, Apple devices: memory corruption ·
Every Apple flaw on CISA’s list · Everything added in March 2024
References
- ^ Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. “Apple Multiple Products Memory Corruption Vulnerability”. Known Exploited Vulnerabilities Catalog, added 6 Mar 2024.
- ^ National Institute of Standards and Technology. “CVE-2024-23225 Detail”. National Vulnerability Database, published 5 Mar 2024.
- ^ Apple. Advisories and fixes: support.apple.com, support.apple.com, support.apple.com, support.apple.com, support.apple.com, and 3 more on NVD’s record.
- ^ FIRST. “Exploit Prediction Scoring System”. EPSS 0.015, percentile 73.9, 31 Oct 2026.
- CVE Program. “CVE-2024-23225”. The official CVE record.
This article is built from CISA’s catalog (version 2026.10.30), NVD’s record and FIRST’s scores, kept in HARD’s database and checked every morning. The plain English is HARD’s.