Arbitrary code execution via ImageIO use-after-free
Published Jan 27, 2025 · Updated Apr 2, 2026
Use-after-free in ImageIO across affected Apple operating systems allows attackers to execute arbitrary code through a crafted image. ImageIO accesses an object after its lifetime ends while processing attacker-controlled image data; Apple has not identified the responsible function or image format. Exploitation requires malicious image content to be processed and can compromise the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the current process.
Summary
What happened
Use-after-free in ImageIO across affected Apple operating systems allows attackers to execute arbitrary code through a crafted image. ImageIO accesses an object after its lifetime ends while processing attacker-controlled image data; Apple has not identified the responsible function or image format. Exploitation requires malicious image content to be processed and can compromise the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the current process.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2024-54499
- Published
- Jan 27, 2025
- Updated
- Apr 2, 2026
- Vendor
- Apple
- Product
- iOS and iPadOS
- Classifications
- CWE-416, T1203
- Attack vector
- network
- Privileges
- unauthenticated
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Jan 27, 2025CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- Apr 2, 2026Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.
Exploitability
Present is not the same as exploitable
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Is a vulnerable build present?
Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.
- Affected versionversion=0 <18.2
What conditions does exploitation require?
What is affected?
Attacks
What attackers are doing with it
Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.
Public exploit references
No public exploit references are available in this record.
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Technologies
Your stack
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Your stack
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