macOS Sequoia: Improper Access Control
CVE-2025-43524 is a high-severity improper access control vulnerability in macOS Sequoia from Apple, with a CVSS 3.1 base score of 8.8 out of 10. It can be exploited with local access to the system by an attacker with a low-privileged account, without any action from a user. The record lists version 15.7.7 as the first without the flaw, so updating macOS Sequoia to that release or later removes the exposure. There is no confirmed exploitation so far. EPSS estimates a 0.12% chance of exploitation within 30 days, which is low compared with other CVEs.
High severity with no evidence of exploitation so far.
What to do
- Update macOS Sequoia to 15.7.7 or a later version.
- Update macOS Sonoma to 14.8.7 or a later version.
- Update macOS Tahoe to 26.2 or a later version.
- Read the advisory on support.apple.com for workarounds and exact fixed builds.
Affected products and versions
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apple | macOS Sequoia | before 15.7.7 | 15.7.7 |
| Apple | macOS Sonoma | before 14.8.7 | 14.8.7 |
| Apple | macOS Tahoe | before 26.2 | 26.2 |
| Apple | macOS | 14.0 up to, but not including, 14.8.7; 15.0 up to, but not including, 15.7.7; 26.0 up to, but not including, 26.2 | 14.8.7, 15.7.7, 26.2 |
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
- LocalThe attacker needs local access or must trick a user into running something.
- Attack complexity
- LowNo special conditions are needed; the attack works reliably.
- Privileges required
- LowA basic user account is enough.
- User interaction
- NoneNo action by a victim is required.
- Scope
- ChangedThe attack can reach beyond the vulnerable component into other systems.
- 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:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H. Scored by CISA (ADP).
Official description
An access issue was addressed with additional sandbox restrictions. This issue is fixed in macOS Sequoia 15.7.7, macOS Sonoma 14.8.7, macOS Tahoe 26.2. An app may be able to break out of its sandbox.
Source: the CVE record as published by its numbering authority, via NVD and CVE.org.
The underlying weakness: Improper Access Control
The product does not restrict or incorrectly restricts access to a resource from an unauthorized actor.
How developers prevent this class of flaw
- Very carefully manage the setting, management, and handling of privileges. Explicitly manage trust zones in the software.
- 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.
Timeline
- CVE record published.
- CISA published its SSVC assessment (exploitation: none, automatable: no, technical impact: total).
- Record last changed materially (score, affected products, status or references).
References
Advisories
- support.apple.com/en-us/125886Release Notes
Recent Improper Access Control vulnerabilities
- 9.8 Critical severity
- 7.5 High severity
- 7.5 High severity
- 8.8 High severity
- 7.5 High severity
- 7.5 High severity
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