Protected system-file modification via crafted backup restoration
Published Mar 17, 2025 · Updated Apr 2, 2026
Improper file handling in Apple MobileBackup allows attackers to modify protected system files by restoring a crafted backup. Apple has not published which MobileBackup file-handling operation incorrectly accepts or places attacker-controlled backup content. Exploitation requires restoration of a malicious backup, and the documented consequence is limited to protected system-file modification.
Summary
What happened
Improper file handling in Apple MobileBackup allows attackers to modify protected system files by restoring a crafted backup. Apple has not published which MobileBackup file-handling operation incorrectly accepts or places attacker-controlled backup content. Exploitation requires restoration of a malicious backup, and the documented consequence is limited to protected system-file modification.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2024-54525
- Published
- Mar 17, 2025
- Updated
- Apr 2, 2026
- Vendor
- Apple
- Product
- iOS and iPadOS
- Classifications
- CWE-434, T1565.001
- Attack vector
- network
- Privileges
- unauthenticated
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Mar 17, 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
Compare your product and version with the public record. A matching version still requires validation against your environment.
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?
Published CVSS scores
CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.
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.
Weakness, pattern, technique
Public exploit references
No public exploit references are available in this record.
Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.
Technologies
Your stack
See the directory against your own environment.
Your stack
Check the software in your environment
Book a demo to see how Hinoki identifies affected software and validates exploitability in your environment.
Book a demo