Historical catalog analysis: CISA added this entry on March 13, 2025. The entry reflects catalog information retrieved on August 31, 2026, not a snapshot archived on the inclusion date. Check current vendor guidance before acting.
What the vulnerability is
CVE-2025-24201 is an out-of-bounds write vulnerability (CWE-787) located within WebKit, the engine used for HTML processing. This flaw could allow maliciously crafted web content to break out of the Web Content sandbox. Because WebKit is utilized by Apple Safari and other applications that rely on it for rendering web content, the vulnerability extends across multiple Apple platforms.
Exposure and applicability
The vulnerability affects a broad range of Apple products, including iOS, iPadOS, and macOS. In healthcare environments, these devices are frequently used by clinicians for accessing electronic health records (EHR), managing patient portals, and conducting administrative tasks.
Exposure occurs when a user interacts with maliciously crafted web content. While the sandbox is designed to isolate web processes from the rest of the system, a successful breakout could potentially allow an attacker to access data stored on the device or interact with other system components. For healthcare providers, this introduces a risk to the confidentiality and integrity of electronic protected health information (ePHI) residing on or passing through these devices.
Remediation priorities
Based on our analysis, security leaders should prioritize remediation based on the device’s role in handling sensitive patient data. CISA has added this vulnerability to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog, indicating a heightened urgency for patching.
- Update Device OS: The primary mitigation is applying the vendor-provided updates for iOS, iPadOS, and macOS. This should be prioritized for devices used in clinical workflows.
- Review Web-Facing Workflows: Identify clinical staff who frequently access external websites or third-party portals via Safari or other WebKit-based browsers to determine the highest risk profiles within the organization.
- Enforce Managed Update Policies: For organizations using Mobile Device Management (MDM), ensure that OS updates are pushed and verified across the fleet to reduce the window of exposure.
How to validate remediation
To verify that the risk has been reduced, IT administrators should use the following methods:
- Version Verification: Use MDM dashboards or manual system checks to confirm that all iOS, iPadOS, and macOS devices are running the versions containing the fix for CVE-2025-24201.
- Inventory Audit: Cross-reference the list of patched devices against the inventory of hardware used to access ePHI to ensure no critical gaps remain.
It is important to note that a version check confirms the patch is present but does not guarantee absolute security against all future or unknown threats.
Limits and open questions
While the vulnerability allows for a sandbox escape, it requires the user to interact with specific, maliciously crafted web content; it is not a remote execution flaw that occurs without interaction.
There are remaining unknowns regarding whether this vulnerability has been utilized in ransomware campaigns, as current data lists this status as unknown. Additionally, while CISA has set a remediation deadline of April 3, 2025, for federal agencies, private healthcare entities must determine their own patching cadence based on their internal risk management frameworks and HIPAA Security Rule obligations.
Source and editorial note
CVE-2025-24201: Apple Multiple Products WebKit Out-of-Bounds Write Vulnerability · Source date: March 13, 2025 · Retrieved August 31, 2026.
Material facts are tied to the cited primary source. Recommendations are independent defensive analysis unless attributed to the source. Confirm consequential decisions against current authoritative guidance.
Archive date: March 16, 2025. The displayed post date is assigned three days after the source date to organize this retrospective archive; it does not mean this site published the analysis then. First published by this site: October 18, 2026 at 01:03 UTC.
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