CVE-2025-43403
📋 TL;DR
This CVE describes an authorization vulnerability in macOS that allows applications to bypass intended access controls and potentially access sensitive user data. The issue affects macOS Sequoia and Sonoma systems before specific patch versions. 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 →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 application could access sensitive user data including personal files, credentials, or other protected information without user consent.
Likely Case
Malware or compromised legitimate applications could access user data they shouldn't have permission to view, potentially leading to data theft or privacy violations.
If Mitigated
With proper application sandboxing and security controls, the impact would be limited to data accessible within the application's normal permissions.
🎯 Exploit Status
Requires user to run a malicious application. Exploitation depends on bypassing macOS security controls and Gatekeeper protections.
🛠️ Fix & Mitigation
✅ Official Fix
Patch Version: macOS Sequoia 15.7.4 or macOS Sonoma 14.8.4
Vendor Advisory: https://support.apple.com/en-us/126349
Restart Required: No
Instructions:
1. Open System Settings > General > Software Update. 2. Click 'Update Now' if updates are available. 3. Install macOS Sequoia 15.7.4 or macOS Sonoma 14.8.4. 4. Follow on-screen instructions to complete installation.
🔧 Temporary Workarounds
Application Restriction
macOSRestrict application installations to App Store only and avoid downloading applications from untrusted sources.
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Implement application allowlisting to control which applications can run on the system
- Enable full disk encryption and use strong user account controls to limit data access
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Check macOS version in System Settings > General > About. If version is macOS Sequoia before 15.7.4 or macOS Sonoma before 14.8.4, system is vulnerable.Check Version:
sw_versVerify Fix Applied:
Verify macOS version shows 15.7.4 or higher for Sequoia, or 14.8.4 or higher for Sonoma in System Settings > General > About.📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- Unusual application access patterns to protected directories
- Applications requesting elevated permissions unexpectedly
Network Indicators:
- Not applicable - local vulnerability
SIEM Query:
source="macos" AND (event_type="file_access" OR event_type="process_creation") AND target_path CONTAINS "/Users/" AND NOT process_name IN (allowed_applications)