CVE-2025-30446 in macOS
Summary
by MITRE • 04/01/2025
A permissions issue was addressed with additional restrictions. This issue is fixed in macOS Ventura 13.7.5, macOS Sequoia 15.4, macOS Sonoma 14.7.5. A malicious app with root privileges may be able to modify the contents of system files.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/01/2025
This vulnerability represents a critical permissions flaw that undermines the security model of apple's macos operating system. The issue stems from insufficient access controls that allow malicious applications with root privileges to manipulate system file contents, potentially compromising the integrity and confidentiality of the entire operating system. The vulnerability affects multiple macos versions including Ventura 13.7.5, Sequoia 15.4, and Sonoma 14.7.5, indicating a widespread impact across the macos ecosystem. From a cybersecurity perspective, this represents a privilege escalation vulnerability that could enable attackers to gain deeper system access than intended by the operating system's security architecture. The flaw allows for unauthorized modification of critical system files, which could lead to persistent backdoors, data corruption, or complete system compromise.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-276, which describes improper file permissions, and CWE-732, which covers inadequate permissions for critical resources. These classifications highlight the fundamental flaw in how the operating system enforces access controls for system-level resources. The vulnerability operates at the kernel level where privilege separation should normally prevent user-space applications from modifying protected system files. Attackers could exploit this weakness by first gaining root privileges through other means, then leveraging this permission flaw to modify core system components such as binaries, configuration files, or system libraries. This creates a dangerous escalation path that could allow adversaries to establish persistent access or corrupt system functionality.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple file modification capabilities. System administrators and security teams face increased risk of undetected compromise, as malicious modifications could be hidden within legitimate system files or occur during normal system operations. The vulnerability's presence in multiple macos versions means that organizations running different macos releases may all face similar risks, requiring coordinated patch management efforts. Security monitoring becomes more complex as legitimate system modifications may be obscured by malicious activity, potentially leading to false negatives in intrusion detection systems. The risk is particularly concerning for enterprise environments where macos devices serve as critical infrastructure components, as this vulnerability could enable attackers to compromise entire networks through targeted device compromise.
Mitigation strategies should focus on immediate patch deployment across all affected macos versions to address the root cause of the permissions issue. Organizations should implement comprehensive monitoring of system file changes, particularly for critical system directories and binaries, using tools that can detect unauthorized modifications. Security teams should conduct thorough vulnerability assessments to identify any potential exploitation attempts and establish baseline system states for comparison against future modifications. Network segmentation and access controls should be reinforced to limit the potential damage from any successful exploitation. Additionally, privileged access monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual patterns of root-level activity that could indicate exploitation attempts. The remediation process should include verification that system integrity is maintained after patch application and ongoing monitoring for any signs of compromise.