CVE-2025-1398 Overview
CVE-2025-1398 is a security vulnerability in Mattermost Desktop App versions 5.10.0 and earlier that involves the explicit declaration of unnecessary macOS entitlements. This misconfiguration allows an attacker with remote access to bypass Apple's Transparency, Consent, and Control (TCC) security framework via code injection techniques.
Critical Impact
Attackers can bypass macOS TCC protections to access protected resources without user consent, potentially compromising user privacy and system security.
Affected Products
- Mattermost Desktop App versions ≤5.10.0
- macOS systems running affected Mattermost Desktop App versions
Discovery Timeline
- 2025-03-17 - CVE-2025-1398 published to NVD
- 2025-09-25 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2025-1398
Vulnerability Analysis
This vulnerability (CWE-426: Untrusted Search Path) stems from overly permissive macOS entitlements declared in the Mattermost Desktop App. macOS uses a security framework called Transparency, Consent, and Control (TCC) to protect sensitive user data and system resources by requiring explicit user permission before applications can access protected resources such as the camera, microphone, contacts, photos, and more.
When an application declares unnecessary entitlements, it may inadvertently weaken the TCC protection mechanism. In the case of Mattermost Desktop App versions 5.10.0 and earlier, the application included entitlements that were not required for its core functionality. An attacker who gains remote access to the system can exploit these excessive entitlements through code injection to bypass TCC restrictions and access protected resources without triggering the standard macOS consent dialogs.
Root Cause
The root cause of this vulnerability is improper entitlement configuration in the Mattermost Desktop App's macOS build process. The application was bundled with macOS entitlements that exceeded what was necessary for its legitimate operation. These excessive entitlements create a larger attack surface that adversaries can leverage to circumvent macOS security controls.
Attack Vector
The attack requires local access to the target system and involves code injection into the Mattermost Desktop App process. Once an attacker has established remote access to a macOS system (through phishing, malware, or other means), they can inject malicious code into the running Mattermost Desktop App process. Due to the unnecessary entitlements, this injected code inherits elevated privileges that allow it to bypass TCC protections, enabling unauthorized access to protected system resources and user data.
The attack flow typically involves:
- Gaining initial remote access to the target macOS system
- Identifying the running Mattermost Desktop App process
- Injecting malicious code into the process
- Leveraging the app's excessive entitlements to access TCC-protected resources
Detection Methods for CVE-2025-1398
Indicators of Compromise
- Unexpected code injection into Mattermost Desktop App processes on macOS
- Anomalous access to TCC-protected resources (camera, microphone, contacts) by Mattermost processes
- Suspicious process activity or child processes spawned from Mattermost Desktop App
- Unusual entitlement usage patterns in system logs
Detection Strategies
- Monitor macOS tccd logs for unauthorized access attempts to protected resources
- Implement endpoint detection rules for code injection techniques targeting Electron-based applications
- Use application behavior monitoring to detect abnormal resource access patterns from Mattermost Desktop App
- Review macOS Unified Logs for TCC bypass indicators
Monitoring Recommendations
- Enable enhanced logging for TCC events on macOS endpoints
- Deploy endpoint security solutions capable of detecting process injection attacks
- Monitor for unauthorized modifications to application bundles and entitlements
- Implement file integrity monitoring for Mattermost Desktop App installation directories
How to Mitigate CVE-2025-1398
Immediate Actions Required
- Upgrade Mattermost Desktop App to a version newer than 5.10.0 immediately
- Audit macOS endpoints for installed versions of Mattermost Desktop App
- Review TCC access logs for any signs of exploitation
- Consider temporarily removing or disabling Mattermost Desktop App on critical systems until patches are applied
Patch Information
Mattermost has released security updates to address this vulnerability. Users should update to the latest version of Mattermost Desktop App that removes the unnecessary macOS entitlements. For detailed patch information and release notes, refer to the Mattermost Security Updates page.
Workarounds
- Restrict remote access to macOS systems running vulnerable Mattermost Desktop App versions
- Implement additional endpoint protection to detect and prevent code injection attacks
- Use web-based Mattermost client as an alternative until desktop app is updated
- Apply macOS system-level security hardening to limit potential TCC bypass impact
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
