CVE-2025-24203 in macOS
Summary
by MITRE • 04/01/2025
The issue was addressed with improved checks. This issue is fixed in macOS Ventura 13.7.5, iPadOS 17.7.6, macOS Sequoia 15.4, macOS Sonoma 14.7.5, iOS 18.4 and iPadOS 18.4, tvOS 18.4, visionOS 2.4, watchOS 11.4. An app may be able to modify protected parts of the file system.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/12/2025
This vulnerability represents a critical file system access control flaw that allows malicious applications to bypass protective mechanisms designed to safeguard system integrity. The issue stems from insufficient validation of file system modifications, enabling unauthorized applications to manipulate protected system components that should remain inaccessible to regular user processes. Such a weakness creates a significant attack surface where adversaries could potentially compromise system stability and security through unauthorized file system alterations. The vulnerability affects multiple Apple operating systems including macOS Ventura 13.7.5, iPadOS 17.7.6, macOS Sequoia 15.4, macOS Sonoma 14.7.5, iOS 18.4, iPadOS 18.4, tvOS 18.4, visionOS 2.4, and watchOS 11.4, demonstrating the widespread nature of this security gap across Apple's ecosystem.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves inadequate access control validation mechanisms within the file system layer of Apple's operating systems. When applications attempt to modify protected file system components, the system should enforce strict permission checks to prevent unauthorized access. However, the flaw allows certain applications to circumvent these protections, potentially enabling them to modify system-critical files, configuration settings, or protected directories. This represents a breakdown in the principle of least privilege and could allow for privilege escalation attacks where malicious software gains elevated system permissions through file system manipulation. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-284, which describes improper access control issues in software systems, specifically targeting file system access controls that should protect system integrity and user data.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple file system modifications to potentially enable more sophisticated attack vectors. An attacker could leverage this weakness to install malicious code, modify system binaries, alter security configurations, or corrupt critical system files that could lead to complete system compromise. The ability to modify protected file system components creates opportunities for persistent threats that could survive system restarts or normal security updates. This vulnerability could also facilitate data exfiltration by allowing unauthorized access to protected system directories where sensitive information might be stored. The attack surface is particularly concerning given that this affects multiple Apple platforms including mobile devices, tablets, and wearable devices, providing attackers with numerous potential entry points for exploitation.
Apple's response to this vulnerability involved implementing enhanced checks and validation mechanisms within the file system access control layer. The fix addresses the root cause by strengthening the permission validation processes that govern how applications interact with protected system components. This remediation approach aligns with security best practices outlined in the MITRE ATT&CK framework, specifically targeting techniques related to privilege escalation and persistence. Organizations should prioritize applying these security updates across all affected platforms to prevent exploitation of this vulnerability. The patch ensures that proper access control enforcement is maintained for all file system operations, preventing unauthorized applications from modifying protected system components. Additionally, system administrators should monitor for any suspicious file system modifications that might indicate attempted exploitation of this vulnerability before the patch was applied.