CVE-2025-24115 is a vulnerability identified in Apple macOS, which poses a medium risk to organizations. This vulnerability allows an application to read files outside of its sandbox due to a path handling issue that was addressed with improved validation. The severity of this issue is underscored by its CVSS score of 6.3, indicating that organizations should take it seriously and prioritize remediation efforts.
Organizations should prioritize patching immediately. The vulnerability affects various versions of macOS, including Sequoia 15.3, Sonoma 14.7.3, and Ventura 13.7.3, all of which contain fixes for this issue. The risk is significant, as unauthorized access to sensitive files could lead to data breaches or unauthorized disclosure of confidential information.
Currently, there are no known public exploits available for this vulnerability. However, its potential impact necessitates that organizations remain vigilant and apply the latest updates as soon as they are available to mitigate any risks.
The urgency for defenders cannot be overstated, as the implications of failing to address this vulnerability could be severe. Organizations should not only patch their systems but also consider implementing additional security measures to safeguard sensitive information.
Vulnerability Details
This vulnerability allows an application to read files outside of its sandbox due to a path handling issue. The official CVE description states: 'A path handling issue was addressed with improved validation.' The vulnerability is classified as a 'path handling' issue and is assigned a CVSS score of 6.3, falling under the medium severity category.
The affected product is macOS, with the vulnerability being present in versions prior to the respective patches. The vulnerability was published on January 27, 2025, and is classified under CWE-125.
Technical Analysis
The root cause of CVE-2025-24115 stems from improper validation in path handling, which allows applications to access files they should not have the privilege to read. The attack vector is local, requiring users to interact with the application, thereby making user interaction a prerequisite for exploitation.
The complexity of the attack is low, as it does not require elevated privileges to exploit. However, the impact of a successful exploitation could lead to a high confidentiality impact, as sensitive files may be exposed, while integrity and availability impacts are not applicable.
Risk & Impact Analysis
The real-world deployment risk associated with this vulnerability is significant. If exploited, it could allow unauthorized access to sensitive data, potentially leading to data breaches. The blast radius includes any application running on the affected versions of macOS that might inadvertently gain access to sensitive files.
Organizations should assess their exposure to this vulnerability and prioritize remediation based on the CVSS score. Given that the vulnerability has not yet been exploited in the wild, the urgency is moderate, but organizations should not delay applying patches.
The exploitation status is currently unknown, and organizations are urged to monitor for any emerging threats related to 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 the respective patches are affected. Specifically, the vulnerable versions include macOS prior to 13.7.3, versions 14.0 to 14.7.3, and versions 15.0 to 15.3.
Mitigation & Remediation
Organizations should upgrade to the latest versions of macOS, specifically to macOS Sequoia 15.3, macOS Sonoma 14.7.3, or macOS Ventura 13.7.3 to address this vulnerability. If patching is not immediately possible, consider implementing workarounds such as restricting application permissions to limit file access.
For further assistance, organizations may seek guidance through penetration testing services to identify similar weaknesses in their applications and systems.
Detection Guidance
To monitor for potential exploitation of this vulnerability, security teams should look for unusual file access patterns and log indicators that suggest unauthorized access attempts to sensitive files. Behavioral anomalies in applications should also be monitored.
AppSecure Threat Intelligence Insight
CVE-2025-24115 highlights the ongoing challenges organizations face in securing their applications against path handling vulnerabilities. As applications increasingly rely on sandboxing for security, this incident serves as a reminder of the importance of rigorous validation mechanisms in preventing unauthorized access to sensitive data.
Security teams should take this opportunity to strengthen their application security practices, including regular security assessments and implementing robust validation checks. For more information on application security best practices, refer to resources such as the API security best practices guide, which outlines essential strategies for securing modern applications.
Additionally, organizations can benefit from understanding common vulnerabilities, as highlighted in the vulnerability management program design guide, which offers insights into building a comprehensive security framework.
Finally, leveraging the expertise of security professionals through services like red teaming can provide organizations with a deeper understanding of their security posture and help identify potential weaknesses before they can be exploited.
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
.webp)