Overview
In the constantly evolving landscape of cybersecurity, a new vulnerability has emerged that threatens macOS Sequoia users. The vulnerability, designated as CVE-2025-43188, is a permissions issue that, if exploited, could allow a malicious app to gain root privileges on the system. This escalation of privileges could potentially lead to system compromise or data leakage, posing a significant threat to the security and privacy of affected users. In a digital age where information is the most valuable asset, this vulnerability cannot be overlooked.
Vulnerability Summary
CVE ID: CVE-2025-43188
Severity: High (7.8 CVSS Score)
Attack Vector: Local
Privileges Required: Low
User Interaction: Required
Impact: System Compromise, Data Leakage
Affected Products
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Product | Affected Versions
macOS Sequoia | 15.6 and prior versions
How the Exploit Works
The vulnerability arises from an insufficient permissions check within the macOS Sequoia operating system. Specifically, this issue is tied to the way macOS handles app permissions. In a normal scenario, apps are isolated in their own sandboxes and are unable to access certain critical system resources. However, due to this vulnerability, a malicious app could break out of this sandbox and gain elevated privileges.
An attacker would need to convince the user to install and run a malicious app. Once the app is launched, it can exploit the vulnerability to escalate its privileges to root level. With root privileges, the app can then perform actions that are typically restricted, such as modifying system files, installing software, and accessing sensitive data.
Conceptual Example Code
Conceptually, an exploit might look like this:
#!/bin/bash
# This is a conceptual demonstration of an exploit, not actual exploit code
echo "Installing malicious app"
# The malicious app is installed
install_malicious_app
echo "Launching app"
# The app is launched
launch_app
echo "Exploiting vulnerability to gain root privileges"
# The app utilizes the vulnerability to escalate its privileges
exploit_vulnerability
echo "Malicious actions performed with root privileges"
# The app performs actions that would typically be restricted
perform_malicious_actionsIn the real world, the exploit would likely involve more complex code and obfuscation techniques to avoid detection by security software.
Mitigation
The vendor has addressed this issue in macOS Sequoia 15.6, therefore it is strongly recommended to update to the latest version of the operating system. If updating is not immediately possible, using a Web Application Firewall (WAF) or Intrusion Detection System (IDS) can serve as temporary mitigation. It’s also important to follow best security practices such as avoiding the installation of apps from unknown sources and regularly backing up important data.
