CVE-2025-24200
CVE-2025-24200 is a security flaw in Apple iOS and iPadOS, the operating system on iPhones and iPads. Attackers can reach parts of Apple iOS and iPadOS that should be locked to them. The US Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) added it to its catalog of flaws known to be used in attacks on 12 Feb 2025.[1]
Apple iOS and iPadOS 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 15.8.4, 16.7.11, 18.3.1 and 17.7.5.
Description
CISA calls it an incorrect authorization in Apple iOS and iPadOS. In its words: “Apple iOS and iPadOS contains an incorrect authorization vulnerability that allows a physical attacker to disable USB Restricted Mode on a locked device.”[1]
The CVE record adds: “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.”[2]
The underlying weakness is incorrect authorization (CWE-863), in MITRE’s list of common software weaknesses.
It scores 6.1 out of 10 on the Common Vulnerability Scoring System, which rates it medium, 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 | 15.8.4 |
| iOS and iPadOS | 16.7.11 |
| iOS and iPadOS | 18.3.1 |
| iPadOS | 17.7.5 |
Every device with Apple iOS and iPadOS needs the update.
Exploitation
CISA added it to its catalog of known exploited vulnerabilities on 12 Feb 2025, 2 days after it was made public. CISA lists a flaw only when it has reliable evidence of it being exploited, and gave US federal agencies until 5 Mar 2025 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 4%. That’s in the top 9% 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 iOS and iPadOS 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 15.8.4 or later.Fixed in version 15.8.4, 16.7.11, 18.3.1 and 17.7.5. 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 6.1.[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 4%.[4] |
See also
Other Apple iOS and iPadOS flaws
- CVE-2023-41974: use-after-free ·
- CVE-2023-42824: kernel privilege escalation ·
- CVE-2022-42827: out-of-bounds write ·
- CVE-2021-30983: buffer overflow ·
Other Apple flaws
- CVE-2026-86950, Apple devices: out-of-bounds write ·
- CVE-2026-65400, Apple macOS: improper authentication ·
- CVE-2025-43520, Apple devices: classic buffer overflow ·
- CVE-2025-43510, Apple devices: improper locking ·
- CVE-2025-31277, Apple devices: buffer overflow ·
Other incorrect authorization flaws
- CVE-2026-71362, Adobe Commerce and Magento: incorrect authorization ·
- CVE-2026-42016, JFrog Artifactory: incorrect authorization ·
- CVE-2025-54253, Adobe Experience Manager (AEM) Forms: experience manager forms code execution ·
- CVE-2025-55177, Meta Platforms WhatsApp: incorrect authorization ·
- CVE-2025-21480, Qualcomm Multiple Chipsets: incorrect authorization ·
Added the same day
- CVE-2024-41710, Mitel SIP Phones: argument injection ·
Every Apple flaw on CISA’s list · Everything added in February 2025
References
- ^ Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. “Apple iOS and iPadOS Incorrect Authorization Vulnerability”. Known Exploited Vulnerabilities Catalog, added 12 Feb 2025.
- ^ National Institute of Standards and Technology. “CVE-2025-24200 Detail”. National Vulnerability Database, published 10 Feb 2025.
- ^ Apple. Advisories and fixes: support.apple.com, support.apple.com, support.apple.com, support.apple.com.
- ^ FIRST. “Exploit Prediction Scoring System”. EPSS 0.045, percentile 91.4, 31 Oct 2026.
- CVE Program. “CVE-2025-24200”. 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.