CVE-2025-30454 in macOS
Summary
by MITRE • 04/01/2025
A path handling issue was addressed with improved validation. This issue is fixed in macOS Sonoma 14.7.5, iOS 18.4 and iPadOS 18.4, tvOS 18.4, macOS Sequoia 15.4. A malicious app may be able to access private information.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/01/2025
This vulnerability represents a path handling issue that affects multiple Apple operating systems including macOS Sonoma 14.7.5, iOS 18.4, iPadOS 18.4, and tvOS 18.4. The flaw stems from inadequate validation of file paths within the system's security architecture, creating potential entry points for unauthorized access to private information. The vulnerability falls under the category of improper input validation, which is classified as CWE-20 by the CWE standard and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.001 for command and scripting interpreter. The path handling weakness allows for potential privilege escalation or information disclosure scenarios where malicious applications could exploit the flawed validation mechanisms to access restricted system resources.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the operating system's file path resolution and validation processes. When applications or system components process file paths, the insufficient validation allows for potentially malicious path manipulation that could bypass normal access controls. This issue specifically impacts how the system validates and processes file system paths, creating opportunities for attackers to craft malicious file paths that could access private information. The fix implemented in the updated versions addresses the validation logic to properly sanitize and verify all incoming path parameters before processing them within the system's security boundaries.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure to potentially enable more sophisticated attacks. Malicious applications could exploit this path handling issue to access sensitive user data, system files, or other private information that should normally be protected by the operating system's access controls. The vulnerability creates a potential attack vector where an app with limited privileges could escalate its access rights or gain unauthorized access to private information. This type of vulnerability is particularly concerning in mobile and desktop environments where users expect strong isolation between applications and system resources. The issue demonstrates how seemingly minor path validation flaws can create significant security implications when they affect core system components.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability involve immediate deployment of the patched versions across all affected systems including macOS Sonoma 14.7.5, iOS 18.4, iPadOS 18.4, and tvOS 18.4. System administrators should prioritize updating all devices to ensure proper path validation is in place. Organizations should also implement monitoring for suspicious file access patterns and conduct security audits to verify that no unauthorized access has occurred. The fix addresses the root cause by implementing more robust path validation mechanisms that properly sanitize all input before processing, preventing malicious path manipulation attacks. Security teams should also review their incident response procedures to ensure they can quickly detect and respond to any exploitation attempts targeting this vulnerability. Additional defensive measures include implementing application sandboxing, monitoring for unusual file access patterns, and maintaining updated threat intelligence feeds to identify potential exploitation attempts.