CVE-2025-43499 in macOS
Summary
by MITRE • 11/04/2025
This issue was addressed with additional entitlement checks. This issue is fixed in iOS 18.7.2 and iPadOS 18.7.2, macOS Sequoia 15.7.2, macOS Tahoe 26.1, macOS Sonoma 14.8.2. An app may be able to access sensitive user data.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/18/2025
This vulnerability represents a privilege escalation issue that allowed applications to bypass intended access controls and potentially access sensitive user data. The flaw existed due to insufficient entitlement validation mechanisms within the operating system's security framework, creating a pathway for malicious applications to obtain unauthorized access to protected resources. The vulnerability was specifically addressed through enhanced entitlement checks that strengthen the verification process for application permissions and resource access. The issue affected multiple Apple operating systems including iOS 18.7.2, iPadOS 18.7.2, macOS Sequoia 15.7.2, macOS Tahoe 26.1, and macOS Sonoma 14.8.2, indicating a widespread impact across Apple's ecosystem. The security patch implemented additional validation layers that ensure applications can only access resources for which they have proper entitlements, thereby preventing unauthorized data access through compromised applications.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with common security flaws categorized under CWE-284, which deals with improper access control mechanisms. This classification reflects the core issue where applications could circumvent the proper authorization checks that should prevent unauthorized access to sensitive user information. The vulnerability demonstrates weaknesses in the entitlement system that Apple employs to manage application permissions and access rights. From an operational perspective, this flaw could enable attackers to craft malicious applications that appear legitimate but can access user data beyond their intended scope. The impact extends beyond individual user privacy concerns to potentially enable broader surveillance capabilities or data exfiltration attacks. The vulnerability represents a significant concern for mobile and desktop environments where applications have varying levels of access to user information and system resources.
The remediation approach taken by Apple involved strengthening the entitlement validation process, which aligns with defensive programming principles and access control best practices. This fix demonstrates the importance of maintaining robust permission systems and validating application capabilities against established security policies. Organizations should prioritize updating to the patched versions as soon as possible to mitigate potential exploitation risks. The vulnerability highlights the critical need for continuous security assessment of entitlement and access control mechanisms within operating systems. Security professionals should monitor for similar issues in application sandboxing and permission management systems, as these represent common attack vectors in modern operating environments. The fix contributes to the broader security posture by reinforcing the principle of least privilege and ensuring that applications cannot access resources without proper authorization. This vulnerability serves as a reminder of the ongoing challenges in maintaining secure application environments where proper entitlement management is crucial for protecting user data integrity and privacy.