CVE-2025-24104

Protected-file modification via symlink traversal

Published Jan 27, 2025 · Updated Apr 2, 2026

Symlink traversal in Apple iOS and iPadOS before 18.3, plus iPadOS before 17.7.4, allows attackers to modify protected system files. The Managed Configuration backup-restoration path does not safely resolve symlinks in crafted backup content, allowing link targets to reach protected filesystem locations. Exploitation requires restoration of a maliciously crafted backup; the documented consequence is protected-file modification, not disclosure or service interruption.

CVSS severity5.5
Medium
EPSS probability1.51%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Symlink traversal in Apple iOS and iPadOS before 18.3, plus iPadOS before 17.7.4, allows attackers to modify protected system files. The Managed Configuration backup-restoration path does not safely resolve symlinks in crafted backup content, allowing link targets to reach protected filesystem locations. Exploitation requires restoration of a maliciously crafted backup; the documented consequence is protected-file modification, not disclosure or service interruption.

The record

CVE
CVE-2025-24104
Published
Jan 27, 2025
Updated
Apr 2, 2026
Vendor
Apple
Product
iOS and iPadOS
Classifications
CWE-59, T1641
Attack vector
local
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Jan 27, 2025CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. 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.

  1. Affected versionversion=0 <18.3

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Apple · iOS and iPadOSversion=0 <18.3
Apple · iPadOSversion=0 <17.7.4

Published CVSS scores

5.5NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:N
5.5CISA-ADPCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:N

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.

Daily unique IPsNo honeypot observations are available for this CVE in the selected window.

No observations available

Sep 10, 2026Sep 16, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 16, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectorlocal
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-59Improper Link Resolution Before File Access ('Link Following')
T1641Data Manipulation

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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