CVE-2025-24274: Input Validation Issue Exploitable via Malicious App on macOS

Overview

CVE-2025-24274 is a critical security vulnerability that affects users of macOS across various versions. It is associated with an input validation issue, which, if exploited effectively, could allow a malicious application to gain root privileges on the targeted system. As root access provides complete control over the system, this vulnerability is a severe threat to system security and user data privacy. The issue is of significant concern because of the extensive use of macOS devices worldwide, making it a potential target for cybercriminals seeking to compromise systems or leak data.

Vulnerability Summary

CVE ID: CVE-2025-24274
Severity: High (CVSS: 7.8)
Attack Vector: Local
Privileges Required: Low
User Interaction: Required
Impact: System compromise and potential data leakage

Affected Products

Product | Affected Versions

macOS Ventura | 13.7.6 and earlier
macOS Sequoia | 15.5 and earlier
macOS Sonoma | 14.7.6 and earlier

How the Exploit Works

The CVE-2025-24274 vulnerability exists due to an insufficient input validation mechanism in the affected macOS versions. This flaw allows an attacker to execute arbitrary code and escalate privileges by deploying a malicious application on the victim’s system. Once the user interacts with this application, it can exploit the vulnerability to gain root access, thereby compromising the system and potentially leading to data leakage.

Conceptual Example Code

Below is a conceptual example of how the vulnerability might be exploited. This example does not represent an actual exploit code but is provided to illustrate the concept.

# Assume that the malicious app is installed and running on the victim's system
$ ./malicious_app
# Malicious app exploits the vulnerability and escalates privileges
$ sudo -i
# Now, the app has root access and can perform any action on the system
# For instance, it could read sensitive data
$ cat /etc/passwd

The above example demonstrates the potential risk of the vulnerability, which could be far-reaching depending on the nature of the malicious application. Hence, it is crucial for users to update their systems promptly and follow the mitigation guidance provided.