CVE-2025-24087
📋 TL;DR
This CVE describes a macOS vulnerability where applications could bypass permission checks to access protected user data. It affects macOS systems before Sequoia 15.3. The issue was addressed through improved permission validation mechanisms.
💻 Affected Systems
- macOS
📦 What is this software?
Macos by Apple
macOS is Apple's desktop and laptop operating system powering Mac computers used by millions of professionals, developers, creative professionals, and enterprise users worldwide. Built on a Unix foundation with the Darwin kernel and modern Cocoa frameworks, macOS delivers a seamless ecosystem integr...
Learn more about Macos →⚠️ Risk & Real-World Impact
Worst Case
Malicious applications could access sensitive user data including documents, photos, contacts, or other protected information without user consent.
Likely Case
Malware or compromised applications could exfiltrate user data they shouldn't have access to, potentially leading to data theft or privacy violations.
If Mitigated
With proper application sandboxing and user permission controls, the impact would be limited to specific data types the app already has partial access to.
🎯 Exploit Status
Requires malicious application to be installed and executed on target system. No public exploit details available.
🛠️ Fix & Mitigation
✅ Official Fix
Patch Version: macOS Sequoia 15.3
Vendor Advisory: https://support.apple.com/en-us/122068
Restart Required: Yes
Instructions:
1. Open System Settings 2. Click General 3. Click Software Update 4. Install macOS Sequoia 15.3 update 5. Restart when prompted
🔧 Temporary Workarounds
Application Sandbox Enforcement
allEnsure all applications run with proper sandboxing and minimal required permissions
Application Source Control
allOnly install applications from trusted sources (App Store or verified developers)
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Restrict application installation to App Store only via System Settings > Privacy & Security
- Implement application allowlisting to control which applications can run on the system
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Check macOS version: If version is earlier than 15.3, system is vulnerableCheck Version:
sw_versVerify Fix Applied:
Verify macOS version is 15.3 or later in System Settings > General > About📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- Unusual file access patterns by applications
- Permission denial logs followed by successful access
Network Indicators:
- Unexpected outbound data transfers from applications
SIEM Query:
source="macos" (event="file_access" OR event="permission_denied") app NOT IN allowed_apps_list