CVE-2025-30435 in macOS
Summary
by MITRE • 04/01/2025
This issue was addressed with improved redaction of sensitive information. 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 sandbox escape condition that allows sandboxed applications to access sensitive user data stored in system logs. The flaw exists in the macOS security model where proper isolation between sandboxed applications and system resources has been compromised. The issue specifically affects the redaction mechanisms that should prevent sensitive information from being exposed to unauthorized processes. According to industry standards, this vulnerability maps to CWE-200, which describes improper exposure of sensitive information, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.003 for command and scripting interpreter. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it undermines the fundamental security principle of sandboxing that isolates applications from each other and from system resources.
The technical implementation flaw involves the insufficient sanitization of system log entries that contain user data. When applications write to system logs, sensitive information such as passwords, personal identification numbers, or other confidential data may not be properly redacted before being stored in accessible locations. This creates a scenario where a sandboxed application with limited privileges can potentially access these log entries and extract sensitive information. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it operates at the system level rather than requiring elevated privileges, making it more accessible to malicious actors. The issue is classified as a privilege escalation vector that allows sandboxed processes to access system resources they should not be able to reach.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure. Attackers could potentially leverage this access to gather intelligence about users, their activities, and their systems. This information could then be used for further attacks such as credential harvesting, social engineering, or targeted attacks against specific users. The vulnerability affects all sandboxed applications running on affected macOS versions, making it a widespread concern across the platform. Security researchers have noted that this type of information exposure can lead to cascading security issues where initial access through log data can enable more sophisticated attacks. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where system logs contain extensive user activity information.
The fix implemented in macOS Sequoia 15.4 addresses this vulnerability through enhanced redaction mechanisms that ensure sensitive data is properly sanitized before being written to system logs. This update implements stricter validation of log entries and ensures that all potentially sensitive information is appropriately redacted or removed before storage. The mitigation approach follows security best practices for data protection and aligns with NIST guidelines for secure system design. Organizations should immediately deploy this update to protect their systems from potential exploitation. The fix also includes improvements to the sandboxing implementation that enhance the isolation between applications and system resources, preventing similar issues from occurring in the future. Security teams should monitor for any potential exploitation attempts related to this vulnerability and ensure that all systems are updated to the latest version.