CVE-2025-24200: Apple iOS and iPadOS Incorrect Authorization Vulnerability

CVE-2025-24200 is an incorrect authorization vulnerability in Apple iOS and iPadOS. It allows a physical attacker to disable USB Restricted Mode on a locked device. This matters because USB Restricted Mode is intended to limit data connections over USB when a device is locked, reducing the risk of unauthorized access or forensic extraction if the device is lost, stolen, or seized. Organizations that issue or manage iPhones and iPads should treat this as a physical-access risk that can undermine device lock protections.

Public detail is limited to the CISA description and the CWE classification. Confirm exact impact, fixed builds, and any additional conditions against the official Apple security advisory before acting on assumptions.

How it works

The vulnerability is classified as CWE-863 (Incorrect Authorization). In this class of flaw, the software fails to properly enforce authorization checks for a privileged or restricted operation. Here, the affected operation is the ability to disable USB Restricted Mode while the device remains locked.

An attacker with physical possession of a locked iOS or iPadOS device can abuse the incorrect authorization to turn off USB Restricted Mode. Once disabled, the device may accept broader USB data connections that the restricted mode would otherwise block. No remote network exploitation path is described in the available facts; the attack requires physical access. Exact trigger conditions, user interaction requirements, or persistence after reboot are not specified and must be confirmed against the vendor advisory.

Am I affected? How to find it in your systems

The vulnerability affects Apple iOS and iPadOS. These operating systems run on iPhone and iPad hardware commonly used as corporate-managed endpoints, BYOD devices, or executive devices that may store sensitive email, credentials, or authentication tokens.

• Inventory all managed and unmanaged Apple mobile devices via your MDM (Mobile Device Management) console, Apple Business Manager, or asset-management tools. Record current iOS/iPadOS version strings.
• Compare those versions against the fixed releases listed in Apple’s security advisory for CVE-2025-24200. Do not rely on version numbers from secondary sources.
• Identify devices that are frequently left unattended, used by high-value personnel, or subject to travel and physical-loss risk; these have higher exposure to a physical attacker.
• Telemetry for exploitation is limited because the attack is physical. Look for unexpected USB accessory connections, sudden changes to USB Restricted Mode settings (if your MDM can query them), or forensic indicators of data extraction after a device has been out of the owner’s control. Confirm any available logging or configuration-query capabilities with Apple documentation and your MDM vendor.

How to remediate

The primary remediation is to apply the vendor update that addresses CVE-2025-24200. Follow Apple’s published instructions for the security update or iOS/iPadOS release that contains the fix. CISA’s required action is to apply mitigations per vendor instructions or discontinue use of the product if mitigations are unavailable.

• Push the update through your MDM as soon as it is available and tested in your environment. Prioritize devices that store sensitive data or are used by privileged users.
• After updating, verify that USB Restricted Mode behaves as expected and that the device reports the fixed build.
• For the broader incorrect-authorization class, ensure that device-management policies enforce strong passcodes or biometrics, automatic lock timeouts, and any available USB or accessory restrictions. Re-validate these settings after the update.

If you can't patch immediately

If an immediate update is not possible, reduce risk with compensating controls until the patch can be applied.

• Limit physical access: enforce device custody policies, use locked storage when devices are unattended, and consider hardware cases or cable locks for high-risk environments.
• Strengthen lock-screen protections: require complex passcodes, enable automatic wipe after failed attempts if policy allows, and keep lock timeouts short.
• Monitor for loss or theft: require rapid reporting of missing devices so remote lock/wipe can be issued via MDM.
• Where MDM supports it, audit or enforce USB Restricted Mode and related accessory settings; treat any unexpected disablement as an incident.
• Segment high-value devices from sensitive networks when possible, and avoid storing long-lived credentials solely on the mobile device.
• Virtual patching or network WAF controls have limited applicability because the attack is physical rather than network-based; focus on physical and configuration controls instead.

These measures lower likelihood and impact but do not replace the vendor fix. Plan to apply the official update as soon as operationally feasible.

If your data may have been exposed

Actively exploited vulnerabilities can lead to device compromise and subsequent data exposure. If a device may have been in an attacker’s physical possession while unpatched, treat it as potentially compromised: wipe and re-enroll it after patching, rotate any credentials or tokens that were stored on it, and review access logs for anomalous use of accounts associated with the device. Known ransomware use of this specific vulnerability is not documented. Readers can also run a free exposure scan of their email addresses against known breach data sets to check whether related personal or corporate accounts appear in prior incidents.