CVE-2025-24250 in macOS
Summary
by MITRE • 04/01/2025
This issue was addressed with improved access restrictions. This issue is fixed in macOS Ventura 13.7.5, macOS Sequoia 15.4, macOS Sonoma 14.7.5. A malicious app acting as a HTTPS proxy could get access to sensitive user data.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/07/2025
This vulnerability represents a critical access control flaw in apple's macOS operating system that could enable malicious applications to intercept and access sensitive user data through https proxy manipulation. The issue specifically affects versions prior to the patched releases of macos ventura 13.7.5, macos sequoia 15.4, and macos sonoma 14.7.5. The vulnerability stems from insufficient validation of proxy configurations and certificate handling mechanisms within the operating system's network security framework. Attackers could exploit this weakness by installing malicious applications that masquerade as legitimate https proxies, potentially capturing encrypted communications between users and web services. This represents a significant bypass of the operating system's security model that undermines the fundamental trust assumptions in network communications.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the improper handling of certificate trust chains and proxy configuration validation within macos network security components. When users or malicious applications configure https proxy settings, the system should verify that certificates are properly trusted and that proxy configurations do not introduce security risks. However, the flaw allowed malicious applications to establish proxy connections that could intercept and decrypt https traffic without proper user consent or awareness. This type of vulnerability aligns with common weakness enumeration 284 which addresses inadequate access control mechanisms, and specifically relates to attack technique 459 in the attack tree framework which involves proxy manipulation and credential interception.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data interception to encompass potential credential theft, session hijacking, and comprehensive surveillance of user activities. Malicious actors could exploit this weakness to capture login credentials, personal communications, financial transactions, and other sensitive information transmitted over https connections. The vulnerability affects all users who may inadvertently install or encounter malicious applications that establish unauthorized proxy configurations. This creates a particularly dangerous scenario where users may not be aware that their communications are being monitored or intercepted, as the malicious proxy could be configured to appear legitimate or even be installed as part of seemingly benign applications.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate deployment of the patched operating system versions mentioned in the advisory, which include macos ventura 13.7.5, macos sequoia 15.4, and macos sonoma 14.7.5. Organizations should implement comprehensive application whitelisting policies to prevent installation of unauthorized proxy applications and conduct regular security audits of network configurations. System administrators should monitor for unusual proxy configuration changes and implement network segmentation to limit potential attack surfaces. Additionally, users should be educated about the risks of installing unknown applications and the importance of verifying certificate trust before accepting proxy configurations. The fix addresses the root cause by implementing stricter validation of proxy certificates and enhancing access controls around network configuration modifications, aligning with security best practices for maintaining trust boundaries in network communications.