CVE-2025-30462 in macOS
Summary
by MITRE • 04/01/2025
A library injection 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. Apps that appear to use App Sandbox may be able to launch without restrictions.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/01/2025
This vulnerability represents a critical sandbox escape mechanism that undermines the fundamental security model of macOS application sandboxing. The library injection issue allows malicious applications to bypass the App Sandbox restrictions that are designed to isolate applications from system resources and other processes. The flaw specifically affects the sandboxing implementation in macOS versions prior to the patched releases, creating a pathway for unauthorized code execution and privilege escalation. Security researchers identified that applications which appear to be properly sandboxed can actually launch without the intended restrictions, effectively nullifying the security boundaries that protect user data and system integrity. This represents a significant weakness in the operating system's security architecture that could enable attackers to access restricted system resources, read sensitive files, or execute arbitrary code with elevated privileges.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from insufficient validation mechanisms within the sandboxing framework that governs how applications interact with system libraries and shared resources. When applications attempt to load dynamic libraries or execute system calls, the security checks that should prevent unauthorized access are bypassed due to inadequate input validation or improper privilege handling. This flaw aligns with common software security weaknesses documented in CWE-255, which addresses issues related to improper handling of privileges and access controls. The vulnerability demonstrates how sandboxing mechanisms can be circumvented when proper access control enforcement is not maintained throughout the application lifecycle, particularly during library loading operations that occur at runtime. Attackers can exploit this by crafting malicious applications that leverage the library injection capability to break out of their designated sandbox environment.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation to encompass potential data breaches and system compromise across multiple macOS versions. Applications that rely on the assumption that sandboxing provides adequate protection may be vulnerable to attacks that exploit this library injection flaw, potentially allowing attackers to access user documents, system configuration files, or other sensitive data. The affected versions include macOS Ventura 13.7.5, macOS Sequoia 15.4, and macOS Sonoma 14.7.5, indicating that a significant portion of the macOS user base was exposed to this risk. Organizations and individuals using these operating system versions face increased exposure to sophisticated attacks that could leverage this vulnerability to gain unauthorized access to systems, making it a high-priority security concern. The vulnerability also impacts the broader security posture of macOS systems by undermining the trust model that relies on sandboxing to prevent malware from causing widespread damage.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate system updates to the patched macOS versions that address the library injection issue. System administrators should prioritize deployment of the security updates across all affected systems to ensure that the sandboxing restrictions are properly enforced. Additionally, organizations should implement monitoring solutions that can detect anomalous application behavior or attempts to load unauthorized libraries that might indicate exploitation of this vulnerability. The remediation process should include verification that applications are properly sandboxed and that no applications are bypassing the intended security controls. Security teams should also review application permissions and access controls to ensure that the sandboxing mechanisms are functioning as intended. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to techniques involving privilege escalation and sandbox evasion, requiring defensive measures that focus on access control enforcement and runtime monitoring to prevent exploitation. Regular security assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to verify that the sandboxing mechanisms remain effective against similar vulnerabilities.