CVE-2025-43369
📋 TL;DR
This macOS vulnerability allows malicious applications to bypass symlink protections and access protected user data. It affects macOS systems before version 26 (Tahoe). The issue stems from improper symlink handling that could be exploited by local applications.
💻 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
A malicious app could access sensitive user data including documents, credentials, or other protected files, potentially leading to data theft or privilege escalation.
Likely Case
Local malware or compromised applications could access restricted user data they shouldn't normally have permissions to read.
If Mitigated
With proper application sandboxing and user permission controls, the impact would be limited to data accessible by the exploited application's sandbox.
🎯 Exploit Status
Exploitation requires a malicious application to be installed and executed on the target system. The attacker needs to craft symlinks to bypass existing protections.
🛠️ 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. No restart required
🔧 Temporary Workarounds
Restrict Application Installation
macOSLimit installation of applications to only trusted sources and verified developers
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Implement strict application control policies to prevent installation of untrusted applications
- Use macOS privacy controls to limit application access to sensitive data locations
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Check macOS version in System Settings > General > About. If version is earlier than 26, the system is vulnerable.Check Version:
sw_versVerify Fix Applied:
Verify macOS version is 26 or later in System Settings > General > About📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- Unusual symlink creation events in system logs
- Applications accessing protected directories they shouldn't normally access
Network Indicators:
- No network indicators - this is a local vulnerability
SIEM Query:
source="macos_system_logs" AND (event="symlink_creation" OR event="file_access_violation")