CVE-2025-24114 is a medium-severity vulnerability affecting Apple macOS. This vulnerability allows an application to modify protected parts of the file system due to a permissions issue that was addressed with additional restrictions. Organizations using affected versions of macOS should be aware of the associated risks and prioritize remediation.
The severity of this vulnerability is rated as medium, with a CVSS score of 5.5. This level indicates that it poses a moderate risk to organizational security, particularly if exploited in a local context. The potential for integrity impact is high, which could lead to unauthorized changes to critical system files.
As of now, there is no confirmed public exploit for this vulnerability, and it is not listed in the Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog. However, the possibility of exploitation exists, and organizations should remain vigilant.
Organizations should prioritize patching immediately, particularly those running versions of macOS affected by this vulnerability, including macOS Sequoia 15.3, macOS Sonoma 14.7.3, and macOS Ventura 13.7.3.
Vulnerability Details
The official CVE description indicates that a permissions issue was addressed with additional restrictions. An application may be able to modify protected parts of the file system, which can lead to significant integrity concerns. This vulnerability is classified under CWE-863, indicating an issue related to improper authorization.
The CVSS score of 5.5 reflects a medium severity level, with a vector string of CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:N. This indicates that the attack vector is local, requiring low complexity and low privileges, with no user interaction necessary.
Technical Analysis
The root cause of this vulnerability lies in improper permission management within the macOS file system. Attackers may leverage this weakness to gain unauthorized access to critical files, potentially modifying or corrupting data. The attack vector is local, meaning that an attacker must have physical access to the machine or be logged in as a local user.
With low attack complexity, this vulnerability could be exploited by individuals with minimal technical expertise if they gain access to a vulnerable system. No user interaction is required, which further increases the risk.
In terms of impact, the confidentiality impact is none, while the integrity impact is high. This means that while sensitive information may not be disclosed, the integrity of the system could be compromised significantly.
Risk & Impact Analysis
The real-world risk associated with CVE-2025-24114 is notable. Organizations running affected versions of macOS could face significant integrity issues if this vulnerability is exploited. The blast radius potential is considerable, particularly in environments where sensitive data is stored or processed.
Given the medium CVSS score and the lack of confirmed exploitation details, organizations should assess their exposure and prioritize remediation based on the CVSS metrics. This vulnerability represents a clear attack surface that could be exploited by malicious actors if left unaddressed.
Organizations should address this vulnerability in their priority patch cycle to maintain their security posture and safeguard against potential integrity compromises.
Exploitation Status
Signal | Status |
|---|---|
Known Exploit | No |
Public PoC | No |
Actively Exploited | No |
Ransomware Use | No |
Affected Versions
The affected versions of macOS include all versions prior to vendor patch 13.7.3, as well as versions from 14.0 to 14.7.3 and from 15.0 to 15.3. Organizations should ensure they are running the latest patched versions.
Mitigation & Remediation
Organizations should update their systems to the latest versions of macOS, specifically macOS Sequoia 15.3, macOS Sonoma 14.7.3, or macOS Ventura 13.7.3 to address this vulnerability. In addition, continuous monitoring and configuration hardening practices should be employed to mitigate potential risks.
Penetration testing can also be utilized to identify potential weaknesses in systems and applications.
Detection Guidance
To detect potential exploitation of this vulnerability, organizations should monitor for unusual log activity, especially related to file system modifications. Behavioral anomalies in application performance may also indicate attempts to exploit this vulnerability.
AppSecure Threat Intelligence Insight
The long-term significance of CVE-2025-24114 revolves around its implications for file system integrity within macOS environments. This vulnerability represents a broader trend of increasing permissions issues in operating systems, highlighting the need for robust authorization mechanisms.
Security teams should take lessons from this vulnerability by implementing strict access controls and regularly reviewing permissions granted to applications. Continuous assessment of security posture can prevent similar vulnerabilities from being exploited in the future.
Organizations can enhance their security practices by adopting a comprehensive application security assessment strategy that includes regular updates and vulnerability management.
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
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