CVE-2025-31270
📋 TL;DR
A permissions vulnerability in macOS allows applications to bypass security restrictions and access protected user data. This affects macOS systems before version 26 (Tahoe). Users running vulnerable macOS versions are at risk of data exposure.
💻 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 app gains unauthorized access to sensitive user data including documents, photos, or credentials stored in protected areas.
Likely Case
Legitimate but poorly secured apps inadvertently access user data they shouldn't, potentially exposing personal information.
If Mitigated
App sandboxing and proper permissions prevent exploitation, limiting impact to isolated app data only.
🎯 Exploit Status
Exploitation requires a malicious or compromised application to be installed and executed on the target system. No known public exploits.
🛠️ Fix & Mitigation
✅ Official Fix
Patch Version: macOS Tahoe 26
Vendor Advisory: https://support.apple.com/en-us/125110
Restart Required: No
Instructions:
1. Open System Settings 2. Click General 3. Click Software Update 4. Install macOS Tahoe 26 update 5. Follow on-screen instructions
🔧 Temporary Workarounds
Restrict App Installation
macOSOnly install apps from trusted sources like the Mac App Store to reduce risk of malicious apps.
System Settings > Privacy & Security > Allow apps downloaded from: App Store
Review App Permissions
macOSRegularly review and restrict app permissions in System Settings to limit data access.
System Settings > Privacy & Security > Review permissions for each app category
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Implement application allowlisting to control which apps can run
- Use endpoint detection and response (EDR) to monitor for suspicious app behavior
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Check macOS version: If version is earlier than 26, system is vulnerable.Check Version:
sw_versVerify Fix Applied:
Verify macOS version is 26 or later after update.📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- Unusual file access patterns by applications
- Permission denial errors in system logs
Network Indicators:
- Not applicable - local vulnerability
SIEM Query:
source="macos" (event="file_access" AND result="denied") OR (process="*" AND access="protected_data")