CVE-2025-24109 in macOS
Summary
by MITRE • 01/28/2025
A downgrade issue was addressed with additional code-signing restrictions. This issue is fixed in macOS Sequoia 15.3, macOS Sonoma 14.7.3, macOS Ventura 13.7.3. An app may be able to access sensitive user data.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/08/2026
This vulnerability represents a significant security regression in apple's operating system ecosystem that allows malicious applications to potentially access sensitive user data through a downgrade attack vector. The issue specifically relates to code-signing restrictions that were weakened, enabling applications to bypass normal security controls that would typically prevent unauthorized access to user information. The vulnerability affects multiple versions of macos including the latest releases of sequoia 15.3, sonoma 14.7.3, and ventura 13.7.3, indicating a widespread impact across the apple operating system landscape. The downgrade issue suggests that attackers can manipulate the system to operate in a less secure state where code-signing enforcement is reduced or circumvented.
The technical flaw stems from insufficient code-signing validation mechanisms that allow applications to operate with reduced security restrictions when the system is in a vulnerable state. This type of vulnerability aligns with cwe-377 - insecure temporary file creation and cwe-379 - creation of temporary files in insecure locations, though more specifically relates to cwe-378 - insecure temporary file handling in the context of code-signing validation. The vulnerability creates a window where applications can access user data without proper authorization, potentially compromising personal information, credentials, and other sensitive system resources. The issue demonstrates a failure in the operating system's security model to maintain consistent code-signing enforcement across different system states and version configurations.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data access, as it fundamentally undermines the trust model that macos maintains between applications and user data. Attackers can exploit this weakness to perform unauthorized data collection, potentially accessing sensitive user information including documents, communications, financial data, and personal identifiers. The downgrade capability means that even systems that have been updated to secure versions can be manipulated back to vulnerable states, creating persistent security risks. This vulnerability particularly affects enterprise environments where users may not immediately update to the latest security patches, and where legacy applications may be running with reduced security enforcement.
Security mitigations for this vulnerability require immediate system updates to the patched versions of macos as specified in the advisory. Users should ensure that their systems are running macos sequoia 15.3, macos sonoma 14.7.3, or macos ventura 13.7.3 to receive the necessary code-signing restrictions. System administrators should implement strict update policies and monitor for unauthorized system modifications that could lead to downgrade scenarios. The fix addresses the root cause by strengthening code-signing validation mechanisms and preventing applications from operating in reduced security modes. Organizations should also review their application deployment processes to ensure that only properly signed and verified applications are installed on systems, as outlined in the mitre att&ck framework under tactic t1068 - exploitation for privilege escalation and technique t1552 - unsecured credentials, which directly relates to the potential exposure of user data through compromised application security controls.