Overview
CVE-2025-43233 is a severe cybersecurity vulnerability currently impacting multiple versions of macOS. This vulnerability, if exploited, can allow malicious applications to act as HTTPS proxies, resulting in unauthorized access to sensitive user data. Given the widespread use of macOS in both personal and business environments, the potential for system compromise and data leakage makes this vulnerability a high-risk issue that demands immediate attention.
Vulnerability Summary
CVE ID: CVE-2025-43233
Severity: Critical (9.8 CVSS score)
Attack Vector: Application
Privileges Required: None
User Interaction: Required
Impact: Unauthorized access to sensitive user data, potential system compromise, and data leakage
Affected Products
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Product | Affected Versions
macOS Sequoia | 15.6 and earlier
macOS Sonoma | 14.7.7 and earlier
macOS Ventura | 13.7.7 and earlier
How the Exploit Works
The vulnerability CVE-2025-43233 works by exploiting insufficient access restrictions on macOS’s handling of HTTPS proxies. It allows a malicious app to pose as a HTTPS proxy, thereby bypassing the system’s security mechanisms and gaining unauthorized access to sensitive user data.
Conceptual Example Code
This conceptual example demonstrates how a malicious app might exploit this vulnerability.
POST /proxy/setting HTTP/1.1
Host: target.example.com
Content-Type: application/json
{ "proxy_app": "malicious_app", "action": "act_as_HTTPS_proxy" }
In this hypothetical example, the malicious app ‘malicious_app’ sends an HTTP POST request to the proxy setting endpoint of the target system. It attempts to set itself as the HTTPS proxy, which, if successful, would allow it to gain unauthorized access to sensitive user data.
Mitigation
Apple has already addressed this issue with improved access restrictions in subsequent macOS updates. Users are urged to update their system to the latest version as soon as possible. For macOS Sequoia, update to version 15.6 or later. For macOS Sonoma, update to version 14.7.7 or later. And for macOS Ventura, update to version 13.7.7 or later.
For temporary mitigation, users can apply a Web Application Firewall (WAF) or Intrusion Detection System (IDS). However, this should only be seen as a temporary solution while preparing for the system update. Always ensure the latest patches and updates are installed to prevent this and other potential vulnerabilities.