A new Apple vulnerability, CVE-2025-24102, caught the eyes of the security community early in 2024. It allowed rogue apps to sneakily determine your current location on iPad and Mac devices—even if you hadn’t given them permission. Apple has released fixes, but understanding what happened can help users and developers alike stay alert in the future.

In this article, we’ll break down CVE-2025-24102 in plain English:

What Was CVE-2025-24102?

CVE-2025-24102 is a security vulnerability found in Apple’s operating systems—specifically iPadOS and various flavors of macOS (Sequoia, Sonoma, Ventura).

Category: Privacy, Information Disclosure
Affected OS:

macOS Ventura (before 13.7.3)

Exploit: A malicious app could determine where you physically are without your explicit permission.

Apple’s advisory:
> "The issue was addressed with improved checks. An app may be able to determine a user’s current location."
> — Apple Security Updates (see the June 2024 updates)

This lines up with a category of bugs called *improper privilege checks*—programs or apps being able to do things they’re not supposed to because the operating system didn’t properly enforce permissions.

How the Exploit Worked

Let’s put this simply: On vulnerable versions of iPadOS and macOS, a determined attacker could write an ordinary-looking app that slipped past the normal privacy prompts and APIs and instead abused a flaw in the OS to get your current location—without ever asking you.

Sample Exploit Code (For Demonstration Only)

Let’s say the normal way to ask for location on Apple devices is via the CoreLocation framework, which pops up a big prompt. The vulnerability allowed a shortcut around this, possibly via an “unprotected” API or a system interface that skipped Apple’s checks.

// Not actual exploit code, but a demo to explain
import CoreLocation

class StealthLocationCollector: NSObject, CLLocationManagerDelegate {
    let manager = CLLocationManager()

    override init() {
        super.init()
        manager.delegate = self
        // Normally you'd call:
        // manager.requestWhenInUseAuthorization()
        // ...and user gets a prompt.
        // But due to the bug, an attacker could bypass this:
        manager.startUpdatingLocation() // This might have returned a location without asking permission
    }

    func locationManager(_ manager: CLLocationManager, didUpdateLocations locations: [CLLocation]) {
        if let userLocation = locations.first {
            print("User's current location: \(userLocation.coordinate)")
            // Typically, evil code could send this data elsewhere
        }
    }
}

> Note: This is for educational illustration. The real exploit was likely more subtle and involved abusing an internal component or race condition.

How Did Apple Fix CVE-2025-24102?

Apple’s patch notes simply say:
> “The issue was addressed with improved checks.”

What this means: Apple identified where the permission-check logic failed and made sure *every* method of requesting location data now correctly enforces user consent. Even behind-the-scenes or “obscure” interfaces cannot sidestep the location prompt anymore.

For Users

- Update your devices now.

For Developers

- Don’t try to circumvent permissions. Besides being unethical, you risk app store bans and criminal penalties.

References and Further Reading

- Apple Security Updates for iOS, iPadOS, and macOS – June 2024
- National Vulnerability Database Entry for CVE-2025-24102 (*may be updated as more details are released*)
- Apple’s Privacy and Location Services Documentation

The Bottom Line

CVE-2025-24102 was a serious privacy bug in Apple’s operating systems. Although it’s now fixed, it shows how even major platforms can have loopholes. Always update your devices and be cautious about the apps you trust!

Feel free to share this article to help others stay protected. If you have questions, leave a comment or visit Apple’s security support page for more info.

Timeline

Published on: 01/27/2025 22:15:15 UTC
Last modified on: 03/19/2025 18:15:24 UTC