VDB-323316 · CVE-2025-55317 · EUVD-2025-27335

Microsoft AutoUpdate on macOS link following

CVSS Meta Temp Score CVSS is a standardized scoring system to determine possibilities of attacks. The Temp Score considers temporal factors like disclosure, exploit and countermeasures. The unique Meta Score calculates the average score of different sources to provide a normalized scoring system.	Current Exploit Price (≈) Our analysts are monitoring exploit markets and are in contact with vulnerability brokers. The range indicates the observed or calculated exploit price to be seen on exploit markets. A good indicator to understand the monetary effort required for and the popularity of an attack.	CTI Interest Score Our Cyber Threat Intelligence team is monitoring different web sites, mailing lists, exploit markets and social media networks. The CTI Interest Score identifies the interest of attackers and the security community for this specific vulnerability in real-time. A high score indicates an elevated risk to be targeted for this vulnerability.
7.1	$0-$5k	0.00

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability classified as critical was found in Microsoft AutoUpdate on macOS. This issue affects some unknown processing. The manipulation results in link following. This vulnerability is identified as CVE-2025-55317. The attack is only possible with local access. There is not any exploit available. It is advisable to implement a patch to correct this issue.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability classified as critical has been found in Microsoft AutoUpdate on macOS (version unknown). Affected is an unknown function. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a link following vulnerability. CWE is classifying the issue as CWE-59. The product attempts to access a file based on the filename, but it does not properly prevent that filename from identifying a link or shortcut that resolves to an unintended resource. This is going to have an impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability. CVE summarizes:

Improper link resolution before file access ('link following') in Microsoft AutoUpdate (MAU) allows an authorized attacker to elevate privileges locally.

The weakness was released 09/09/2025 as confirmed security update guide (Website). The advisory is shared for download at msrc.microsoft.com. This vulnerability is traded as CVE-2025-55317. The exploitability is told to be easy. The attack needs to be approached locally. There are neither technical details nor an exploit publicly available. The current price for an exploit might be approx. USD $0-$5k (estimation calculated on 09/12/2025).

The vulnerability scanner Nessus provides a plugin with the ID 261810 (Microsoft AutoUpdate for macOS < 4.80 Elevation of Privilege (September 2025)), which helps to determine the existence of the flaw in a target environment.

Applying a patch is able to eliminate this problem. A possible mitigation has been published immediately after the disclosure of the vulnerability.

The vulnerability is also documented in the databases at Tenable (261810) and EUVD (EUVD-2025-27335). Once again VulDB remains the best source for vulnerability data.

Productinfo

Vendor

Microsoft

Name

AutoUpdate

License

commercial

Website

Vendor: https://www.microsoft.com/

CPE 2.3info

🔒

CPE 2.2info

🔒

CVSSv4info

VulDB Vector: 🔒
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv3info

VulDB Meta Base Score: 7.8
VulDB Meta Temp Score: 7.1

VulDB Base Score: 7.8
VulDB Temp Score: 6.8
VulDB Vector: 🔒
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

Vendor Base Score (Microsoft): 7.8
Vendor Vector (Microsoft): 🔒

CNA Base Score: 7.8
CNA Vector (Microsoft): 🔒

CVSSv2info

AV	AC	Au	C	I	A
💳	💳	💳	💳	💳	💳
💳	💳	💳	💳	💳	💳
💳	💳	💳	💳	💳	💳

Vector	Complexity	Authentication	Confidentiality	Integrity	Availability
Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock
Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock
Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock

VulDB Base Score: 🔒
VulDB Temp Score: 🔒
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

Exploitinginfo

Class: Link following
CWE: CWE-59
CAPEC: 🔒
ATT&CK: 🔒

Physical: Partially
Local: Yes
Remote: No

Availability: 🔒
Status: Unproven

EPSS Score: 🔒
EPSS Percentile: 🔒

Price Prediction: 🔍
Current Price Estimation: 🔒

0-Day	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock
Today	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock

Nessus ID: 261810
Nessus Name: Microsoft AutoUpdate for macOS < 4.80 Elevation of Privilege (September 2025)

Threat Intelligenceinfo

Interest: 🔍
Active Actors: 🔍
Active APT Groups: 🔍

Countermeasuresinfo

Recommended: Patch
Status: 🔍

Reaction Time: 🔒
0-Day Time: 🔒
Exposure Time: 🔒

Timelineinfo

09/09/2025 VulDB entry created
09/09/2025 +0 days Advisory disclosed
09/09/2025 +0 days Countermeasure disclosed
09/12/2025 +3 days VulDB entry last update

Sourcesinfo

Vendor: microsoft.com

Advisory: msrc.microsoft.com
Status: Confirmed

CVE: CVE-2025-55317 (🔒)
GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-2025-55317
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-323316
EUVD: 🔒

Entryinfo

Created: 09/09/2025 19:49
Updated: 09/12/2025 16:59
Changes: 09/09/2025 19:49 (19), 09/09/2025 19:50 (15), 09/09/2025 19:53 (34), 09/10/2025 13:58 (1), 09/10/2025 15:27 (2), 09/12/2025 16:59 (11)
Complete: 🔍
Cache ID: 216::103