CVE-2025-57741 in FortiClientMac
Summary
by MITRE • 10/14/2025
An Incorrect Permission Assignment for Critical Resource vulnerability [CWE-732] in FortiClientMac 7.4.0 through 7.4.3, 7.2.0 through 7.2.11, 7.0 all versions may allow a local attacker to run arbitrary code or commands via LaunchDaemon hijacking.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/16/2025
This vulnerability represents a critical permission assignment flaw that affects multiple versions of FortiClientMac, specifically targeting the macOS platform. The issue stems from improper permission settings on critical system resources, creating a pathway for local attackers to escalate privileges and execute arbitrary code. The vulnerability is categorized under CWE-732, which specifically addresses incorrect permission assignments for critical resources, making it a fundamental security misconfiguration that undermines the integrity of the system's access control mechanisms.
The technical exploitation occurs through LaunchDaemon hijacking, a technique that leverages the macOS launchd service to gain persistent system-level access. Attackers can manipulate the system's launch daemon configuration to load malicious code with elevated privileges, bypassing normal security controls that would typically prevent unauthorized execution. This method of exploitation is particularly dangerous because LaunchDaemons run with root privileges and are designed to execute automatically at system startup, making them ideal targets for privilege escalation attacks.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple code execution, as it allows attackers to establish persistent backdoors within the compromised system. Once successfully exploited, the malicious code can maintain access across system reboots and potentially spread to other networked devices. The vulnerability affects a broad range of FortiClientMac versions, indicating a widespread exposure across multiple product releases, which increases the potential attack surface and makes remediation more complex for organizations. This type of vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1543.001 for Launch Agents and Services, demonstrating how improper permission settings can enable persistent access.
Organizations should immediately implement patch management procedures to upgrade to unaffected versions of FortiClientMac, as the vulnerability exists across multiple release streams including the latest 7.4.x versions. System administrators should also conduct thorough security audits to identify any unauthorized LaunchDaemon modifications that might have occurred during the exploitation window. The remediation process should include verifying proper permission settings on system launch daemon directories and implementing monitoring controls to detect suspicious LaunchDaemon modifications. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing application whitelisting policies and privilege separation measures to limit the impact of potential future exploitation attempts. The vulnerability's classification as CWE-732 emphasizes the importance of proper access control implementation at the system level, making it essential for security teams to review and strengthen their permission management practices across all system components.