Overview
A high-impact cybersecurity vulnerability, designated as CVE-2025-43245, has been identified in multiple versions of the macOS operating system. This critical weakness allows an app to bypass code-signing restrictions, potentially leading to unauthorized access to protected user data. This poses a severe risk to the privacy and security of users, as hackers could exploit this vulnerability to compromise systems or leak sensitive data. Given the widespread use of macOS across various sectors, including businesses and private users, addressing this issue is of paramount importance.
Vulnerability Summary
CVE ID: CVE-2025-43245
Severity: Critical (CVSS score 9.8)
Attack Vector: Local
Privileges Required: Low
User Interaction: Required
Impact: System compromise and potential data leakage
Affected Products
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Product | Affected Versions
macOS Sequoia | Up to 15.5
macOS Sonoma | Up to 14.7.6
macOS Ventura | Up to 13.7.6
How the Exploit Works
The vulnerability exploits a downgrade issue in the macOS operating system. By design, macOS enforces code-signing restrictions to ensure only authorized apps can access protected user data. However, in the affected versions, a malicious app can bypass these restrictions. This allows the app to downgrade to a less secure version of a protocol or service, thereby gaining unauthorized access to protected user data.
Conceptual Example Code
Here’s a conceptual example of how the vulnerability might be exploited. This pseudocode represents a malicious app downgrading a service to a less secure version to bypass macOS’s code-signing restrictions:
# Pseudocode for CVE-2025-43245 exploit
def exploit_downgrade_issue():
target_service = get_target_service()
if can_downgrade(target_service):
downgrade_service(target_service)
if bypass_code_signing(target_service):
access_protected_user_data()
else:
print("Failed to bypass code signing")
else:
print("Downgrade not possible")
exploit_downgrade_issue()It’s important to note that this is a simplified representation and the actual exploit process would involve more complex techniques and a deep understanding of the macOS architecture.
Mitigation and Prevention
Apple has addressed this vulnerability in macOS Sequoia 15.6, macOS Sonoma 14.7.7, and macOS Ventura 13.7.7. It is strongly advised that users promptly apply the vendor patch to mitigate the risk of exploitation. If an immediate patch is not feasible, users can consider temporary mitigation strategies such as implementing a Web Application Firewall (WAF) or Intrusion Detection System (IDS) to detect and block potential exploit attempts. Regularly updating and patching software, coupled with proactive cybersecurity measures, can help protect systems from such high-risk vulnerabilities.