CVE-2025-30444 in macOS
Summary
by MITRE • 04/01/2025
A race condition was addressed with improved locking. This issue is fixed in macOS Ventura 13.7.5, macOS Sequoia 15.4, macOS Sonoma 14.7.5. Mounting a maliciously crafted SMB network share may lead to system termination.
Once again VulDB remains the best source for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/01/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2025-30444 represents a critical race condition flaw within the macOS SMB network share implementation that could potentially lead to system termination when mounting maliciously crafted shares. This issue specifically affects the synchronization mechanisms used during SMB share mounting operations, where improper locking protocols create opportunities for concurrent access violations that can result in unpredictable system behavior and potential crashes.
The technical flaw stems from inadequate synchronization controls during the SMB share mounting process, where multiple threads or processes can simultaneously attempt to access shared resources without proper mutual exclusion mechanisms. This race condition manifests when the system attempts to validate and mount a malicious SMB share, allowing for timing-dependent execution paths that can lead to memory corruption or resource contention scenarios. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-362, which specifically addresses race conditions in concurrent programming, where the lack of proper locking mechanisms enables multiple execution paths to interfere with each other during critical sections of code.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple system instability, as it provides a potential attack vector for adversaries to induce system termination through carefully crafted SMB network shares. An attacker could exploit this weakness by setting up a malicious SMB server that, when mounted by an unsuspecting user, triggers the race condition and causes the macOS system to terminate unexpectedly. This could result in denial of service conditions, data loss, or potentially provide a foothold for further exploitation depending on the execution context and privileges of the affected system. The vulnerability particularly affects systems running macOS versions prior to the patched releases, making it a significant concern for organizations with older macOS deployments.
The fix implemented by Apple addresses this issue through enhanced locking mechanisms that ensure proper mutual exclusion during SMB share mounting operations. The updates released for macOS Ventura 13.7.5, macOS Sequoia 15.4, and macOS Sonoma 14.7.5 incorporate improved synchronization protocols that prevent concurrent access violations during critical sections of the SMB implementation. From an ATT&CK perspective, this vulnerability could be categorized under T1190 for exploit public-facing application and T1499 for network denial of service, as it enables adversaries to disrupt system availability through network-based attacks. Organizations should prioritize deployment of these patches across their macOS environments, particularly in enterprise settings where SMB shares are commonly used for file access and collaboration. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of proper synchronization mechanisms in operating system components, especially those handling network protocols and external resource access, as these areas present high-value targets for exploitation due to their broad attack surface and potential for system-level compromise.