CVE-2025-24204: Apple macOS Information Disclosure Flaw

CVE-2025-24204 Overview

CVE-2025-24204 is an Information Disclosure vulnerability affecting Apple macOS Sequoia that allows malicious applications to bypass security controls and access protected user data. The vulnerability stems from improper checks within the operating system's data protection mechanisms, enabling unauthorized access to sensitive information that should be protected by macOS privacy controls.

This vulnerability is classified under CWE-200 (Exposure of Sensitive Information to an Unauthorized Actor), indicating that the flaw allows information to be exposed to actors not explicitly authorized to access it.

Critical Impact

A malicious application can bypass macOS privacy protections to access sensitive user data without proper authorization, potentially exposing personal information, credentials, and private files.

Affected Products

• Apple macOS Sequoia versions prior to 15.4
• Apple macOS (all versions matching cpe:2.3:o:apple:macos:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*)

Discovery Timeline

• 2025-03-31 - CVE-2025-24204 published to NVD
• 2025-11-03 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2025-24204

Vulnerability Analysis

The vulnerability resides in macOS Sequoia's data protection framework, where insufficient validation checks allow applications to circumvent the operating system's privacy controls. macOS implements a layered privacy model that requires explicit user consent before applications can access protected data categories such as contacts, photos, calendar events, and location information.

This flaw allows a malicious application running on the system to bypass these consent requirements and directly access protected user data. The network-based attack vector suggests the vulnerability could be triggered remotely, potentially through a malicious application downloaded from the internet or delivered via phishing campaigns.

The impact is significant as it undermines the fundamental privacy guarantees that macOS provides to users, allowing complete unauthorized access to sensitive data with no user interaction required.

Root Cause

The root cause is improper validation checks in the macOS data protection subsystem. Apple's advisory indicates the issue was addressed with "improved checks," suggesting that the original implementation failed to properly validate authorization state or permissions before granting access to protected data resources. This allowed applications to bypass the Transparency, Consent, and Control (TCC) framework that governs data access on macOS.

Attack Vector

The attack can be executed over the network without requiring any privileges or user interaction. An attacker would need to deploy a malicious application on the target macOS system, which could be accomplished through:

1. Distributing a trojanized application via phishing emails or malicious websites
2. Exploiting application distribution channels to deliver malicious payloads
3. Leveraging other vulnerabilities to install the malicious application

Once the malicious application is running, it can silently access protected user data categories that would normally require explicit user consent, including but not limited to: Desktop and Documents folders, Downloads, Photos, Contacts, Calendar, and other privacy-protected resources.

Detection Methods for CVE-2025-24204

Indicators of Compromise

• Unexpected TCC database modifications or queries from unauthorized applications
• Applications accessing protected data directories without corresponding user consent prompts
• Unusual file access patterns to ~/Library/Application Support/com.apple.TCC/TCC.db
• System log entries showing privacy-protected data access without corresponding authorization records

Detection Strategies

• Monitor for applications accessing protected user data folders without corresponding TCC authorization entries
• Implement endpoint detection rules to identify unauthorized access attempts to privacy-protected directories
• Review system logs for anomalous data access patterns from non-system applications
• Deploy behavioral analysis to detect applications bypassing normal consent workflows

Monitoring Recommendations

• Enable detailed logging for file system access to privacy-protected directories
• Configure alerts for TCC database access from unexpected processes
• Monitor for new or modified applications that haven't been properly code-signed or notarized
• Implement continuous monitoring of macOS security framework integrity

How to Mitigate CVE-2025-24204

Immediate Actions Required

• Update all affected macOS systems to macOS Sequoia 15.4 or later immediately
• Review installed applications and remove any untrusted or unnecessary software
• Verify application sources and only install software from trusted developers
• Enable Gatekeeper and ensure it is set to allow only applications from the App Store and identified developers

Patch Information

Apple has released macOS Sequoia 15.4 which addresses this vulnerability with improved validation checks. The security update is available through System Preferences > Software Update or via the Apple Support Article. Organizations should prioritize deployment of this update given the critical severity rating.

Additional technical details about this vulnerability are available in the Full Disclosure Mailing List Post.

Workarounds

• Restrict installation of applications to only those from the Mac App Store until patching is complete
• Implement application allowlisting to prevent unauthorized applications from executing
• Review and audit existing application permissions in System Preferences > Security & Privacy > Privacy
• Consider isolating sensitive data on systems that cannot be immediately patched
• Deploy endpoint protection solutions capable of detecting unauthorized data access attempts