CVE-2025-31200
CVE-2025-31200 is a security flaw in Apple devices, the software on Apple’s iPhones, iPads and Macs. Opening a booby-trapped file can let an attacker run their own code through Apple devices. The US Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) added it to its catalog of flaws known to be used in attacks on 17 Apr 2025.[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 18.4.1, 15.4.1, 2.4.1 and 11.5.
Description
CISA calls it a memory corruption in Apple Multiple Products. In its words: “Apple iOS, iPadOS, macOS, and other Apple products contain a memory corruption vulnerability that allows for code execution when processing an audio stream in a maliciously crafted media file.”[1]
The CVE record adds: “A memory corruption issue was addressed with improved bounds checking. 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, watchOS 11.5. Processing an audio stream in a maliciously crafted media file may result in code execution. Apple is aware of a report that this issue may have been exploited in an extremely sophisticated attack against specific targeted individuals on versions of iOS released before iOS 18.4.1.”[2]
The underlying weakness is memory buffer error (CWE-119), in MITRE’s list of common software weaknesses.
It scores 9.8 out of 10 on the Common Vulnerability Scoring System, which rates it critical, scored by the organisation that published the CVE 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 | 18.4.1 |
| macOS | 15.4.1 |
| tvOS | 18.4.1 |
| visionOS | 2.4.1 |
| watchOS | 11.5 |
Every device with Apple devices needs the update.
Exploitation
CISA added it to its catalog of known exploited vulnerabilities on 17 Apr 2025, 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 8 May 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 21%. That’s in the top 3% of the flaws it scores.[4]
CISA assesses it as automatable: attackers can run it against many targets at once.
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, follow applicable BOD 22-01 guidance for cloud services, 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 18.4.1 or later.Fixed in version 18.4.1, 15.4.1, 2.4.1 and 11.5. 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 9.8.[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 21%.[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 memory buffer error flaws
- CVE-2026-88779, Citrix NetScaler: improper restriction of operations within the bounds of a memory buffer ·
- CVE-2026-88772, Citrix NetScaler: improper restriction of operations within the bounds of a memory buffer ·
- CVE-2026-88771, Citrix NetScaler: improper input validation ·
- CVE-2026-8452, Citrix NetScaler ADC and NetScaler Gateway: improper restriction of operations within the bounds of a memory buffer ·
- CVE-2009-3459, Adobe Acrobat and Reader: heap-based buffer overflow ·
Added the same day
- CVE-2025-31201, Apple devices: arbitrary read and write ·
- CVE-2025-24054, Microsoft Windows: NTLM hash disclosure spoofing ·
Every Apple flaw on CISA’s list · Everything added in April 2025
References
- ^ Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. “Apple Multiple Products Memory Corruption Vulnerability”. Known Exploited Vulnerabilities Catalog, added 17 Apr 2025.
- ^ National Institute of Standards and Technology. “CVE-2025-31200 Detail”. National Vulnerability Database, published 16 Apr 2025.
- ^ Apple. Advisories and fixes: support.apple.com, support.apple.com, support.apple.com, support.apple.com, support.apple.com.
- ^ FIRST. “Exploit Prediction Scoring System”. EPSS 0.209, percentile 97.6, 31 Oct 2026.
- CVE Program. “CVE-2025-31200”. 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.