Recently, a security vulnerability (CVE-2025-24132) has been reported in various Apple products, specifically in AirPlay audio SDK 2.7., AirPlay video SDK 3.5., and CarPlay Communication Plug-in R18. More details about the vulnerability can be found in Apple's official advisory here: Apple Security Updates

In this long read, we will discuss the details of this vulnerability, how it affects users, and the steps taken by Apple in addressing the issue with improved memory handling techniques. The main concern with this vulnerability is that an attacker on the local network may cause an unexpected app termination, leading to potential data loss and inconvenience for users.

Vulnerability Details

The vulnerability lies in the way memory is handled in AirPlay and CarPlay products. An attacker with access to the local network may exploit this flaw to cause an unexpected app termination (also known as a crash). To better understand how this vulnerability can be exploited, let's take a closer look at the code snippet below:

/* Vulnerable code snippet */
int vulnerable_function(char *data, size_t size) {
  char target_buffer[1024];
  memcpy(target_buffer, data, size);
  return ;
}

In the code snippet above, the function vulnerable_function copies the input data (received from the user) into a buffer called target_buffer without checking the user's input size. If an attacker sends more than 1024 bytes of data, it will cause a buffer overflow, leading to an app crash.

Exploiting the Vulnerability

For an attacker to exploit this vulnerability, they need to be on the same local network as the victim. They can then send a specially crafted payload to the device running the vulnerable SDK, causing the unexpected app termination. This can potentially lead to data loss and inconvenience for the user.

An example of a payload to exploit this vulnerability is illustrated below

# Python exploit script
import socket

# construct the payload
payload = b"A" * 2048

# send payload to vulnerable device
s = socket.socket(socket.AF_INET, socket.SOCK_STREAM)
s.connect(("192.168.1.X", 12345)) # replace with the IP of the vulnerable device
s.send(payload)
s.close()

How Apple Addressed the Issue

To resolve this vulnerability, Apple implemented improved memory handling techniques in its SDKs. The updated versions with the fixes are as follows:

CarPlay Communication Plug-in R18.1

In the updated SDKs, Apple now checks the user's input size and ensures that a buffer overflow cannot occur. The improved code is shown below:

/* Updated/patched code snippet */
int updated_function(char *data, size_t size) {
  char target_buffer[1024];
  
  if (size > sizeof(target_buffer)) {
    return -1; // error: input too large
  }

  memcpy(target_buffer, data, size);
  return ;
}

Now, if a user attempts to send more than 1024 bytes of data to the updated function, the function will return an error instead of causing a buffer overflow and the unexpected app termination.

To minimize the risk of being affected by this vulnerability, follow these measures

1. Update your AirPlay and CarPlay products to the latest firmware or software versions mentioned above.
2. Ensure your local network is secured with strong access control, preventing unauthorized users from accessing the network.
3. Regularly check for software updates and security patches to make sure your devices are protected from the latest threats.

Conclusion

Vulnerabilities such as CVE-2025-24132 are a reminder that even popular and widely-used software can contain flaws that put users at risk. By staying informed, regularly updating your devices, and practicing good security hygiene, you can mitigate the impact of these vulnerabilities and keep your digital life safer.

Timeline

Published on: 04/30/2025 21:15:54 UTC
Last modified on: 05/01/2025 14:15:36 UTC