CVE-2025-24262 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. A sandboxed app may be able to access sensitive user data in system logs.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/01/2025
This vulnerability represents a significant privacy flaw in macOS systems where sandboxed applications could potentially access sensitive user data contained within system logs. The issue stems from inadequate private data redaction mechanisms that failed to properly sanitize log entries before they became accessible to applications operating within the sandboxed environment. The vulnerability affects the fundamental security boundary between user privacy and application access, creating a potential pathway for unauthorized data exposure.
The technical flaw manifests as insufficient data sanitization in the logging subsystem where sensitive information such as personal identifiers, authentication tokens, or confidential user data remains unredacted in log files. When applications operate within the sandboxed environment, they are typically restricted from accessing user data directly, but the improper redaction of system logs creates an indirect information disclosure channel. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-532, which addresses information exposure through log files, and represents a specific implementation weakness in the macOS logging framework's privacy protection mechanisms. The issue demonstrates a failure in the principle of least privilege where application sandboxing boundaries are bypassed through log data access.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data exposure, as it enables malicious or compromised sandboxed applications to reconstruct sensitive user information from system log entries. Attackers could leverage this weakness to gather personal data, authentication credentials, or other confidential information that should remain protected within system logs. The vulnerability particularly affects macOS Sequoia 15.4 and earlier versions, creating a window where user privacy is compromised through legitimate application access patterns that should not expose sensitive data. This weakness can be exploited through techniques categorized under ATT&CK tactic TA0006 (Credential Access) and technique T1531 (Account Access), as it enables unauthorized access to user credentials and personal information through log file exploitation.
The fix implemented in macOS Sequoia 15.4 addresses the core issue by enhancing the private data redaction mechanisms within the logging subsystem. This update ensures that sensitive information is properly sanitized and removed from log entries before they become accessible to sandboxed applications. System administrators should prioritize deployment of this update across all affected macOS systems to restore proper privacy boundaries. Organizations should also implement monitoring for unusual log access patterns and consider additional security controls to protect sensitive data in system logs. The vulnerability highlights the importance of comprehensive privacy controls in operating system design and the need for continuous security assessment of logging and data handling mechanisms.