CVE-2025-30433 in visionOS
Summary
by MITRE • 04/01/2025
This issue was addressed with improved access restrictions. This issue is fixed in visionOS 2.4, macOS Ventura 13.7.5, iOS 18.4 and iPadOS 18.4, iPadOS 17.7.6, macOS Sequoia 15.4, macOS Sonoma 14.7.5. A shortcut may be able to access files that are normally inaccessible to the Shortcuts app.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/01/2025
This vulnerability represents a critical access control flaw that allowed unauthorized file system access within Apple's ecosystem. The issue stems from insufficient restrictions in the Shortcuts application's file access mechanisms, creating a potential privilege escalation vector that could enable malicious shortcuts to bypass normal security boundaries. The vulnerability affects multiple operating system versions across Apple's product lineup, indicating a widespread impact that required coordinated patching efforts across different platforms.
The technical implementation of this flaw likely involves improper validation of file access permissions within the Shortcuts framework. When shortcuts attempt to access files, the system should enforce strict sandboxing policies that prevent access to resources outside the app's designated scope. However, the vulnerability allowed shortcuts to traverse these security boundaries and access files that should normally be restricted to the application's sandboxed environment. This type of flaw aligns with common CWE categories related to insufficient access control and improper privilege management, specifically CWE-284 for improper access control and CWE-276 for incorrect permissions.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple file access violations as it creates potential pathways for data exfiltration, system reconnaissance, and further exploitation. An attacker could craft malicious shortcuts that, when executed, would access sensitive user data, system configuration files, or other restricted resources. This vulnerability particularly concerns security professionals due to its potential for abuse in social engineering scenarios where users might unknowingly execute malicious shortcuts. The attack surface is amplified by the widespread use of Shortcuts across Apple devices and the relatively low barrier to executing shortcuts on iOS and macOS platforms.
The remediation efforts required coordinated updates across Apple's ecosystem, with patches released for visionOS 2.4, macOS Ventura 13.7.5, iOS 18.4 and iPadOS 18.4, iPadOS 17.7.6, macOS Sequoia 15.4, and macOS Sonoma 14.7.5. These updates implemented enhanced access restriction mechanisms that properly validate file access requests and enforce stricter sandboxing policies for the Shortcuts application. The fix demonstrates Apple's adherence to security best practices in addressing privilege escalation vulnerabilities and aligns with ATT&CK framework techniques related to privilege escalation and persistence through legitimate system tools. Organizations should prioritize deployment of these patches to prevent potential exploitation while maintaining awareness of similar vulnerabilities in other application frameworks that might exhibit similar access control weaknesses.