CyberSecBulletin
CVE-2025-30465NVD status: Modified

iPadOS: Incorrect Default Permissions

Published Updated By the CyberSecBulletin desk

CVE-2025-30465 is a critical-severity incorrect default permissions vulnerability in iPadOS from Apple, with a CVSS 3.1 base score of 9.8 out of 10. It can be exploited remotely over the network by an unauthenticated attacker, without any action from a user. The record lists version 17.7.6 as the first without the flaw, so updating iPadOS to that release or later removes the exposure. There is no confirmed exploitation so far. EPSS estimates a 1.07% chance of exploitation within 30 days, higher than 65% of scored CVEs.

Patch this week

Critical severity: a successful attack would have severe impact.

What to do

  1. Update iPadOS to 17.7.6 or a later version.
  2. Update macOS to 13.7.5 or 14.7.5 or 14.8.2 or 15.4, whichever matches your release line, or a later version.
  3. Read the advisory on support.apple.com for workarounds and exact fixed builds.
  4. Until you can update, restrict network access to the affected service so it is not reachable from untrusted networks.

Affected products and versions

VendorProductAffected versionsFixed in
AppleiPadOSbefore 17.7.617.7.6
ApplemacOSbefore 13.7.5; before 14.7.5; before 14.8.2; before 15.4; before 15.7.2; before 26.113.7.5, 14.7.5, 14.8.2, 15.4, 15.7.2, 26.1

Version data comes from the organisation that assigned the CVE. Confirm against the vendor advisory before deciding you are unaffected.

How the severity score breaks down

Attack vector
NetworkCan be exploited remotely over a network, including the internet.
Attack complexity
LowNo special conditions are needed; the attack works reliably.
Privileges required
NoneNo account or login is needed.
User interaction
NoneNo action by a victim is required.
Scope
UnchangedImpact stays within the vulnerable component.
Confidentiality
HighAll data handled by the component can be read.
Integrity
HighData or code can be modified at will.
Availability
HighThe component can be taken down completely.

Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H. Scored by CISA (ADP).

Official description

A permissions issue was addressed with improved validation. This issue is fixed in iPadOS 17.7.6, macOS Sequoia 15.4, macOS Sequoia 15.7.2, macOS Sonoma 14.7.5, macOS Sonoma 14.8.2, macOS Tahoe 26.1, macOS Ventura 13.7.5. A shortcut may be able to access files that are normally inaccessible to the Shortcuts app.

Source: the CVE record as published by its numbering authority, via NVD and CVE.org.

The underlying weakness: Incorrect Default Permissions

During installation, installed file permissions are set to allow anyone to modify those files.

How developers prevent this class of flaw

  • The architecture needs to access and modification attributes for files to only those users who actually require those actions.
  • Compartmentalize the system to have safe areas where trust boundaries can be unambiguously drawn. Do not allow sensitive data to go outside of the trust boundary and always be careful when interfacing with a compartment outside of the safe area. Ensure that appropriate compartmentalization is built into the system design, and the compartmentalization allows for and reinforces privilege separation functionality. Architects and designers should rely on the principle of least privilege to decide the appropriate time to use privileges and the time to drop privileges.

More Incorrect Default Permissions vulnerabilities (CWE-276)

Timeline

  1. CVE record published.
  2. CISA published its SSVC assessment (exploitation: none, automatable: yes, technical impact: total).
  3. Record last changed materially (score, affected products, status or references).

References

Other vulnerabilities in iPadOS

All iPadOS vulnerabilities

Recent Incorrect Default Permissions vulnerabilities

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