Physical lock-screen access to notes
Published May 12, 2025 · Updated Apr 2, 2026
Improper authentication in Apple Notes allows physically proximate attackers to read notes from an affected device's lock screen. Apple identifies the Notes component and says authentication was improved, but it does not disclose the faulty check or request path. Affected releases are iOS and iPadOS before 18.5 and iPadOS before 17.7.7; exploitation requires physical possession, and only note disclosure is reported.
Summary
What happened
Improper authentication in Apple Notes allows physically proximate attackers to read notes from an affected device's lock screen. Apple identifies the Notes component and says authentication was improved, but it does not disclose the faulty check or request path. Affected releases are iOS and iPadOS before 18.5 and iPadOS before 17.7.7; exploitation requires physical possession, and only note disclosure is reported.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2025-31228
- Published
- May 12, 2025
- Updated
- Apr 2, 2026
- Vendor
- Apple
- Product
- iOS and iPadOS
- Classifications
- CWE-287, T1409
- Attack vector
- physical
- Privileges
- unauthenticated
Timeline
How it unfolded
- May 12, 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 <18.5
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
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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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