Apple OSes: Apple local network denial of service (CVE-2025-24251) #shorts

Summary

Welcome to today’s security briefing. We’re discussing CVE-2025-24251, a denial-of-service vulnerability affecting multiple Apple platforms. An attacker on the local network can trigger unexpected application terminations on watchOS, tvOS, iOS, iPadOS, macOS, and visionOS. Apple has released patches in watchOS 11.4, tvOS 18.4, macOS Sequoia 15.4, macOS Sonoma 14.7.5, macOS Ventura 13.7.5, iOS and iPadOS 18.4, iPadOS 17.7.6, and visionOS 2.4 to address the issue.

Product details

The vulnerability impacts: • watchOS versions earlier than 11.4 • tvOS versions earlier than 18.4 • iOS and iPadOS versions earlier than 18.4 • iPadOS versions earlier than 17.7 • macOS Sequoia versions earlier than 15.4 • macOS Sonoma versions earlier than 14.7 • macOS Ventura versions earlier than 13.7 • visionOS versions earlier than 2.4 If you’re running any of these Apple operating systems, you should plan to install the available updates immediately.

Vulnerability type summary

CVE-2025-24251 is classified as a denial-of-service (DoS) vulnerability. It stems from inadequate input validation in network-facing components of the affected Apple operating systems. Exploitation allows a local network attacker to send crafted network traffic that causes an application to terminate unexpectedly.

Details of the vulnerability

The root cause lies in missing or insufficient checks when processing certain network packets. An attacker on the same local network can craft malicious traffic to trigger a crash in the target application. While the issue cannot lead to code execution or data extraction, it can disrupt services and degrade user experience—particularly in environments relying on continuous operation of critical apps. Apple researchers improved internal validation logic and added boundary checks to prevent malformed packets from crashing applications.

Conclusion

That covers CVE-2025-24251. If you manage or use Apple devices on potentially untrusted networks, update to the latest OS versions without delay. Installing watchOS 11.4, tvOS 18.4, macOS Sequoia 15.4 or later, macOS Sonoma 14.7.5 or later, macOS Ventura 13.7.5, iOS and iPadOS 18.4, iPadOS 17.7.6, and visionOS 2.4 will close this DoS vector. Stay current, stay secure, and thanks for listening.

This chain involves the following actors

This following systems are involved

Attack entry point

Remediation actions

Exploitation actions

• https://support.apple.com/en-us/122376
• https://support.apple.com/en-us/122377
• https://support.apple.com/en-us/122371
• https://support.apple.com/en-us/122372
• https://support.apple.com/en-us/122373
• https://support.apple.com/en-us/122378
• https://support.apple.com/en-us/122374
• https://support.apple.com/en-us/122375
• [2025-04-29] A vulnerability in Apple watchOS has been identified, allowing for a denial of service attack.
• [2025-04-29] Apple macOS vulnerability CVE-2025-24251 allows for a Denial of Service attack; upgrade recommended.
• [2025-04-29] Apple visionOS has a vulnerability that can lead to a denial of service attack.