Overview
In the realm of cybersecurity, the discovery of new vulnerabilities in widely used software is a common occurrence. One such vulnerability, CVE-2025-31279, has recently been identified in several versions of macOS and iPadOS. The issue pertains to app permissions, which, if exploited, may allow an app to fingerprint the user. This vulnerability is of particular concern due to its high severity rating and the potential for system compromise or data leakage. Any users or administrators of the affected systems should be aware of this threat and implement necessary countermeasures to prevent exploitation.
Vulnerability Summary
CVE ID: CVE-2025-31279
Severity: Critical (CVSS 9.8)
Attack Vector: Local
Privileges Required: None
User Interaction: Required
Impact: System compromise, data leakage
Affected Products
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Product | Affected Versions
macOS Sequoia | 15.6
iPadOS | 17.7.9
macOS Sonoma | 14.7.7
macOS Ventura | 13.7.7
How the Exploit Works
The vulnerability lies in the permissions system of the affected operating systems. An application with no special privileges can leverage this vulnerability to fingerprint a user, leading to potential data leaks or system compromise. The attack requires user interaction, indicating that the exploit may involve tricking the user into performing certain actions or accepting certain permissions.
Conceptual Example Code
Below is a hypothetical example of how this vulnerability might be exploited. This is not a real exploit code but merely an illustrative example:
# This is a conceptual pseudo-code, not a working exploit
def exploit():
app_request_permission("Sensitive Permission")
if user_grants_permission():
fingerprint = gather_user_information()
send_data_to_attacker(fingerprint)In this conceptual example, the malicious app requests a sensitive permission. If the user grants the permission, the app gathers user information to create a fingerprint and sends this data to the attacker. The actual exploit would be more complex and could involve the use of various techniques to deceive the user or hide the malicious activity.