CVE-2025-31232 in macOS
Summary
by MITRE • 05/13/2025
A logic issue was addressed with improved checks. This issue is fixed in macOS Ventura 13.7.6, macOS Sequoia 15.5, macOS Sonoma 14.7.6. A sandboxed app may be able to access sensitive user data.
If you want to get best quality of vulnerability data, you may have to visit VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/28/2025
This vulnerability represents a sandbox escape condition that allows sandboxed applications to access sensitive user data through a logic flaw in the operating system's security mechanisms. The issue stems from insufficient validation checks within the macOS sandboxing framework, which is designed to isolate applications from each other and from system resources to prevent unauthorized access. The flaw specifically affects the sandbox implementation that governs how applications interact with user data and system resources. According to the security patch details, this vulnerability was addressed in multiple macOS versions including Ventura 13.7.6, Sequoia 15.5, and Sonoma 14.7.6, indicating the severity and widespread impact across the operating system's release cycle.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-250, which addresses "Execute Code from Untrusted Input" and related privilege escalation issues. The sandboxing mechanism in macOS relies on strict access controls and permission models to prevent applications from accessing data they should not be able to reach. However, this logic flaw creates a pathway where sandboxed applications can bypass these controls and potentially access sensitive user information such as personal files, credentials, or other protected data. The vulnerability demonstrates a failure in the principle of least privilege enforcement that is fundamental to secure system design.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents significant risk to end users as it undermines the core security model that protects their data. Attackers could potentially exploit this flaw by crafting malicious sandboxed applications that leverage the logic issue to access user data without proper authorization. The impact extends beyond individual users to enterprise environments where users may be running sandboxed applications that could be manipulated to access sensitive corporate information. This vulnerability directly impacts the confidentiality and integrity of user data, as outlined in the attack patterns documented in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under techniques related to privilege escalation and credential access.
The recommended mitigations include immediate deployment of the patched macOS versions mentioned in the advisory, along with enhanced monitoring of sandboxed application behavior for any unusual data access patterns. Organizations should also consider implementing additional security controls such as application whitelisting, enhanced endpoint detection and response capabilities, and regular security assessments of sandboxed applications. The fix addresses the underlying logic checks that were insufficient to prevent unauthorized data access, thereby restoring the proper isolation boundaries that the sandboxing framework is designed to maintain. This vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of robust sandbox implementation and the need for continuous security validation in operating system security models.