CVE-2025-24218 in macOS
Summary
by MITRE • 04/01/2025
A privacy issue was addressed with improved private data redaction for log entries. This issue is fixed in macOS Sequoia 15.4. An app may be able to access information about a user's contacts.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/07/2025
This vulnerability represents a significant privacy exposure in macOS that stems from inadequate handling of private data within application log entries. The issue manifests as a failure to properly redact sensitive information from logs, potentially allowing malicious applications to access contact data that should remain protected. The vulnerability affects the operating system's logging mechanisms and demonstrates a weakness in the privacy controls that govern how sensitive user information is managed and stored. The flaw specifically impacts applications that generate log entries containing contact information, creating a potential vector for unauthorized data access. This type of vulnerability falls under the category of improper data handling and privacy protection failures that can lead to unauthorized information disclosure.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the logging subsystem's failure to properly sanitize or redact private data when applications write to system logs. When applications generate log entries that contain contact information, the system should automatically strip or obfuscate this sensitive data before storing it in log files. However, the flaw allows this redaction process to be bypassed or inadequately implemented, resulting in contact information remaining visible in log entries. This issue is particularly concerning because log files are often accessible to applications with appropriate permissions, and the lack of proper redaction means that contact data could be extracted from these files. The vulnerability represents a breakdown in the principle of least privilege and data minimization, where sensitive information is unnecessarily exposed in system artifacts. This flaw aligns with CWE-532, which addresses information exposure through log files, and demonstrates how inadequate input sanitization can lead to privacy violations.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it creates potential pathways for more sophisticated attacks and privacy violations. Applications that process contact data or maintain user relationship information could inadvertently expose sensitive contact lists through log files, potentially enabling social engineering attacks or unauthorized access to personal information. The vulnerability affects not just individual privacy but also organizational security posture, as contact information can be leveraged for targeted attacks or to build profiles of user behavior and relationships. Attackers could exploit this weakness to gain insights into user networks, potentially facilitating more effective phishing campaigns or other social engineering attacks. The issue also impacts compliance with privacy regulations such as gdpr and ccpa, as organizations may inadvertently violate data protection requirements through improper handling of user contact information in system logs.
The fix for this vulnerability requires comprehensive updates to the macOS logging infrastructure and proper implementation of private data redaction mechanisms. The resolution in macOS Sequoia 15.4 addresses the root cause by improving the log entry redaction process to ensure that contact information is properly sanitized before being written to log files. This update implements stronger data sanitization procedures and enhances the system's ability to identify and redact sensitive information from application logs. Organizations should prioritize deployment of this update to protect against potential exploitation of the vulnerability. Additionally, application developers should review their logging practices to ensure that they are not inadvertently exposing sensitive data through their own logging implementations. The mitigation strategy involves not only applying the operating system update but also conducting thorough audits of existing log files to identify and remediate any previously exposed contact information. This vulnerability highlights the importance of implementing robust privacy controls throughout the software development lifecycle and demonstrates how seemingly minor logging issues can have significant privacy implications. The fix represents a critical step in strengthening the privacy protections within the macOS ecosystem and aligns with best practices for privacy by design as outlined in various cybersecurity frameworks and standards.