A significant security flaw has been identified in Apple’s XNU kernel, potentially enabling local attackers to escalate their privileges and execute arbitrary code with kernel-level access. This vulnerability, designated as CVE-2025-31219, poses a substantial risk across various Apple operating systems and has been assigned a CVSS score of 8.8, indicating high severity.
Discovery and Disclosure
Security researchers Michael DePlante (@izobashi) and Lucas Leong (@wmliang) from Trend Micro’s Zero Day Initiative discovered this vulnerability. Following responsible disclosure protocols, the issue was publicly disclosed on May 21, 2025. Apple has acknowledged the problem and has released patches across its ecosystem to mitigate the security flaw.
Technical Details of the Vulnerability
The root cause of CVE-2025-31219 lies in a race condition within the XNU kernel’s `vm_map` memory management subsystem, specifically affecting the handling of virtual memory allocations. According to the Zero Day Initiative advisory, the specific flaw exists within the handling of virtual memory allocations in the macOS kernel. The issue results from the lack of proper locking when performing operations on an object.
This race condition is particularly concerning because it involves improper memory handling, which can lead to memory corruption scenarios. Attackers with low-privileged code execution capabilities can exploit this flaw to escalate their privileges to the kernel level, effectively gaining complete control over the affected system.
Historical Context
Race conditions in the XNU kernel have been a recurring security concern. Similar vulnerabilities have been documented in the past, including the notable `vm_map_copy` optimization race condition that was previously exploited. These instances highlight the ongoing challenges in securing kernel-level memory management operations.
Affected Systems and Impact Assessment
The vulnerability affects a wide range of Apple’s operating systems, including:
– watchOS 11.5
– macOS Sonoma 14.7.6
– tvOS 18.5
– iPadOS 17.7.7
– iOS 18.5
– macOS Sequoia 15.5
– macOS Ventura 13.7.6
– visionOS 2.5
The widespread impact across Apple’s product lineup underscores the fundamental nature of the XNU kernel vulnerability.
The CVSS 3.1 vector string AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H indicates that while the vulnerability requires local access and low privileges to exploit, it has a high impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability once successfully triggered. The Changed scope rating suggests that the vulnerability can affect resources beyond its initial security context, which is typical for kernel-level privilege escalation flaws.
Mitigation Strategies
Apple has addressed the vulnerability through improved memory handling mechanisms. Users are strongly advised to update their devices to the latest software versions to protect against potential exploits. The patched versions include:
– watchOS 11.5
– macOS Sonoma 14.7.6
– tvOS 18.5
– iPadOS 17.7.7
– iOS 18.5
– macOS Sequoia 15.5
– macOS Ventura 13.7.6
– visionOS 2.5
To update your device, navigate to the system settings and check for software updates. Installing these updates promptly is crucial to maintaining the security and integrity of your device.
Conclusion
The discovery of CVE-2025-31219 highlights the critical importance of vigilant security practices and timely software updates. Users should remain proactive in applying security patches and updates to safeguard their devices against potential threats. As always, exercising caution when downloading and executing software from untrusted sources is essential to maintaining a secure computing environment.
