CVE-2025-24096 is a medium-severity vulnerability affecting Apple macOS. This vulnerability allows a malicious application to potentially access arbitrary files on the system due to inadequate state management. The issue has been addressed in macOS Sequoia 15.3, and organizations are strongly encouraged to apply this update to mitigate the associated risks.
The CVSS score of 5.5 indicates a medium severity level, highlighting the potential impact on confidentiality, where attackers could gain access to sensitive data. Given the nature of this vulnerability and the potential for exploitation, organizations should prioritize patching as soon as possible.
Although there are currently no known exploits or public proof-of-concept (PoC) code associated with this vulnerability, the risk remains significant. Attackers may leverage this flaw to gain unauthorized access to sensitive information, underscoring the urgency for defenders to address this issue.
Organizations should prioritize patching immediately. The vulnerability has been cataloged, and while it is not yet included in the Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) list, it remains critical to ensure that all systems are up to date.
Vulnerability Details
The vulnerability described by CVE-2025-24096 was officially documented by Apple, indicating that it was addressed through improved state management in macOS Sequoia 15.3. The vulnerability type is categorized as a 'local' attack vector, requiring direct access to the affected system.
The CVSS 3.1 vector string for this vulnerability is CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N, which indicates a low attack complexity, no privileges required, and that user interaction is necessary.
The confidentiality impact is rated as high, while integrity and availability impacts are rated as none. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-862, which pertains to the lack of proper access control.
Technical Analysis
The root cause of this vulnerability lies in the application's state management, which failed to adequately restrict access to sensitive files. The attack vector is local, meaning that an attacker would need physical or authorized access to the device. The low complexity of the attack indicates that it could be easily executed by a malicious actor with user interaction.
No privileges are required to exploit this vulnerability, but user interaction is necessary to initiate the process. The confidentiality impact is significant as it allows unauthorized access to sensitive information, while the integrity and availability of the system are not affected.
Risk & Impact Analysis
Risk to organizations includes potential unauthorized access to sensitive data stored on macOS systems. With a CVSS score of 5.5, the urgency of addressing this vulnerability is classified as medium. The potential blast radius encompasses any sensitive information that could be accessed by an attacker through a malicious application.
Organizations should assess their deployment of macOS and prioritize patching systems to the latest version. The vulnerability's exploitability is rated as medium, indicating that while there are currently no known exploits, the risk exists, warranting immediate attention.
Given the EPSS score of 0.00056, which places it in the lower percentile of risk, organizations should remain vigilant and monitor for any changes in the threat landscape surrounding this vulnerability.
Exploitation Status
Signal | Status |
|---|---|
Known Exploit | No |
Public PoC | No |
Actively Exploited | No |
Ransomware Use | No |
Affected Versions
All versions of macOS prior to 15.3 are affected by this vulnerability. It is crucial for organizations to update to the latest version to ensure they are protected against potential exploitation.
Mitigation & Remediation
To remediate this vulnerability, organizations should immediately update to macOS Sequoia 15.3 or later. In cases where immediate patching is not possible, consider implementing security controls to limit access to sensitive files and monitor for any unusual activity.
For ongoing security, organizations may also consider engaging in continuous penetration testing to identify and address vulnerabilities proactively.
Detection Guidance
Organizations should monitor logs for any unauthorized file access and look for behavioral anomalies that may indicate exploitation attempts. Network signatures may also be useful in detecting attempts to exploit this vulnerability.
AppSecure Threat Intelligence Insight
The long-term significance of CVE-2025-24096 lies in the ongoing challenge of managing state effectively within applications. This vulnerability underscores the need for security teams to prioritize secure coding practices and rigorous testing.
Organizations should learn from this incident to enhance their application security frameworks and consider vulnerability management programs that can reduce the likelihood of similar vulnerabilities in the future.
For additional insights on application security, organizations may refer to resources on penetration testing methodology and best practices.
Additionally, engaging in API security testing can help identify potential vulnerabilities before they are exploited.
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
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