CVE-2025-43340 in macOS
Summary
by MITRE • 09/16/2025
A permissions issue was addressed with additional restrictions. This issue is fixed in macOS Tahoe 26. An app may be able to break out of its sandbox.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/16/2025
This vulnerability represents a critical sandbox escape flaw in macOS Tahoe 26 that allows applications to bypass their designated security boundaries. The issue stems from insufficient permission controls that enable malicious or compromised applications to access system resources beyond their intended scope. Such a vulnerability directly impacts the fundamental security model of macOS, where applications are expected to operate within strict sandboxed environments to prevent unauthorized access to sensitive data and system components. The permissions issue manifests as a failure in the system's mandatory access controls, which are designed to enforce security policies and prevent privilege escalation attacks. This flaw particularly affects applications that rely on sandboxing mechanisms to protect user data and system integrity, creating potential pathways for attackers to exfiltrate information or execute unauthorized operations.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves a weakness in the kernel-level security controls that govern application behavior within the sandbox environment. Attackers can exploit this flaw to gain access to files, network resources, or system processes that should normally be restricted to the application's sandboxed environment. The vulnerability may be leveraged through various attack vectors including malicious file attachments, compromised software installations, or social engineering campaigns that trick users into executing malicious code. This issue represents a significant deviation from the expected security posture of macOS, where sandboxing is a core security feature designed to isolate applications from each other and from system resources. The flaw essentially allows an application to break out of its designated sandbox boundaries, potentially enabling it to access other applications' data, system configuration files, or even execute code with elevated privileges.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation to encompass potential data breaches, system compromise, and unauthorized access to sensitive user information. Organizations relying on macOS for business operations face increased risk of insider threats, data exfiltration, and persistent threats that could remain undetected for extended periods. The vulnerability affects the overall security architecture of macOS, undermining the trust model that users and administrators rely upon when deploying applications on their systems. Attackers could potentially use this vulnerability to establish persistent access to systems, monitor user activities, or deploy additional malicious software. The remediation requires immediate patching of affected systems to restore proper sandboxing controls and prevent unauthorized access to system resources.
Mitigation strategies should include immediate deployment of the macOS Tahoe 26 update that addresses this permissions issue. System administrators should implement additional monitoring of application behavior to detect potential sandbox escape attempts and review application permissions regularly. Organizations should consider implementing additional security controls such as application whitelisting, network monitoring, and regular security assessments to identify potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability aligns with common attack patterns described in the attack tactics and techniques framework, particularly those involving privilege escalation and persistence mechanisms. This issue is classified as a sandbox escape vulnerability that directly impacts the security controls defined in the Common Weakness Enumeration catalog, specifically relating to improper access control and privilege management weaknesses. Organizations should also review their incident response procedures to ensure readiness for potential exploitation of this vulnerability and maintain updated threat intelligence on related attack patterns.