CVE-2025-43304
📋 TL;DR
A race condition vulnerability in macOS allows malicious applications to potentially gain root privileges by exploiting improper state handling. This affects macOS systems running versions before Sonoma 14.8 and Sequoia 15.7. The vulnerability could enable privilege escalation attacks.
💻 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 →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
Complete system compromise with root-level access, allowing attackers to install persistent malware, access all user data, and control system resources.
Likely Case
Local privilege escalation where a malicious app gains elevated privileges to perform unauthorized actions, potentially leading to data theft or further system exploitation.
If Mitigated
Limited impact with proper application sandboxing and security controls in place, potentially preventing successful exploitation.
🎯 Exploit Status
Exploitation requires local application execution and timing precision due to the race condition nature. No public proof-of-concept has been identified in the provided references.
🛠️ Fix & Mitigation
✅ Official Fix
Patch Version: macOS Sonoma 14.8, macOS Sequoia 15.7
Vendor Advisory: https://support.apple.com/en-us/125111
Restart Required: Yes
Instructions:
1. Open System Settings > General > Software Update. 2. Install available updates for macOS Sonoma 14.8 or macOS Sequoia 15.7. 3. Restart the system when prompted.
🔧 Temporary Workarounds
Application Restriction
allRestrict installation and execution of untrusted applications to reduce attack surface.
sudo spctl --master-enable
sudo spctl --enable --label "Developer ID"
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Implement strict application control policies to prevent execution of untrusted applications
- Enable full disk encryption and monitor for unusual privilege escalation attempts
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Check macOS version: if running macOS Sonoma earlier than 14.8 or macOS Sequoia earlier than 15.7, the system is vulnerable.Check Version:
sw_versVerify Fix Applied:
Verify macOS version is 14.8 or higher for Sonoma, or 15.7 or higher for Sequoia.📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- Unexpected privilege escalation events in system logs
- Applications requesting root privileges unexpectedly
Network Indicators:
- Not applicable - local vulnerability
SIEM Query:
source="macos_system_logs" AND (event="privilege_escalation" OR process="sudo" OR user="root")