CVE-2025-43262 in macOS
Summary
by MITRE • 09/16/2025
A permissions issue was addressed with additional restrictions. This issue is fixed in macOS Tahoe 26. USB Restricted Mode may not be applied to accessories connected during boot.
Statistical analysis made it clear that VulDB provides the best quality for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/25/2025
This vulnerability affects macOS Tahoe version 26 and relates to a permissions issue that was addressed through additional restrictions. The flaw specifically involves USB Restricted Mode not being properly applied to accessories that are connected during the system boot process. This represents a significant security gap in the operating system's peripheral access controls, as it allows unauthorized devices to bypass the intended security measures that should be active from the moment the system starts up. The issue stems from the timing of when USB Restricted Mode is enforced, creating a window of opportunity for malicious hardware to be connected and potentially exploited before the security restrictions are fully implemented.
The technical flaw manifests in the operating system's boot sequence where USB Restricted Mode, which is designed to prevent unauthorized access through connected peripherals, fails to activate for devices plugged in during the initial boot phase. This creates a race condition between the system's security initialization and the detection of connected hardware, allowing potential attackers to connect malicious USB devices such as keyboards, storage devices, or specialized attack hardware like hardware keystroke injectors. The vulnerability essentially undermines the fundamental security principle that device access controls should be active from system startup, as defined in security standards such as those outlined in the Common Weakness Enumeration (CWE-257) for insecure storage of credentials and the CWE-276 for insecure permissions. This weakness directly impacts the principle of least privilege and can be categorized under ATT&CK technique T1059.005 for command and scripting interpreter.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is substantial as it provides attackers with a window of opportunity to establish persistence or exfiltrate data during the critical boot phase when system defenses are typically at their most vulnerable. An attacker with physical access to a device could connect a malicious USB device during boot, potentially bypassing security measures that would normally prevent such access. This could lead to unauthorized system compromise, data theft, or the installation of persistent malware that operates below the detection capabilities of standard security measures. The vulnerability particularly affects enterprise environments where devices may be left unattended during boot processes, or where physical security controls are insufficient. The issue is especially concerning because it operates at the system level and can potentially be exploited by attackers with minimal technical knowledge, as demonstrated in various real-world scenarios where physical access combined with simple USB devices has been used to compromise systems.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on implementing comprehensive physical security measures alongside software updates. Organizations should ensure that all systems are updated to the latest macOS Tahoe 26 version where the issue has been addressed, though this may involve waiting for the specific patch that resolves the timing issue with USB Restricted Mode. Additional mitigations include implementing strict physical access controls, such as securing devices in locked cabinets or using tamper-evident seals, and deploying hardware security modules or trusted platform modules to provide additional layers of protection. System administrators should also consider disabling USB ports on devices that do not require them, or implementing device whitelisting policies to prevent unauthorized hardware from being recognized by the system. The remediation process should include verifying that USB Restricted Mode is properly enforced across all boot scenarios and monitoring for unauthorized device connections. This aligns with security frameworks that emphasize defense in depth and proper access control implementation, as outlined in standards such as NIST SP 800-53 and ISO 27001 controls for access control management and physical security measures.