CVE-2025-24226: Apple Xcode Information Disclosure Flaw

CVE-2025-24226 Overview

CVE-2025-24226 is an information disclosure vulnerability affecting Apple Xcode versions prior to 16.3. A malicious application installed on the local system can access private information that should be protected. Apple addressed the issue with improved checks in Xcode 16.3. The weakness is classified under [CWE-200] (Exposure of Sensitive Information to an Unauthorized Actor). Exploitation requires local access and user interaction, limiting the attack surface to scenarios where a user runs a crafted application. No public proof-of-concept code or evidence of exploitation in the wild has been reported.

Critical Impact
A malicious app running locally can read private information exposed by Xcode components, undermining the confidentiality boundary between installed applications.

Affected Products

Apple Xcode versions prior to 16.3
macOS systems with vulnerable Xcode installations
Development environments using affected Xcode toolchains

Discovery Timeline

2025-03-31 - CVE-2025-24226 published to the National Vulnerability Database (NVD)
2026-06-17 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2025-24226

Vulnerability Analysis

CVE-2025-24226 is an information disclosure flaw in Apple Xcode. The vulnerability allows a malicious local application to access private information handled by Xcode without proper authorization. Apple's advisory states the issue was resolved with improved checks in Xcode 16.3, indicating missing or insufficient validation logic in the affected code path.

The vulnerability maps to [CWE-200], which covers unintended exposure of sensitive data to actors that should not have access. Exploitation impacts confidentiality only. It does not affect integrity or availability of the host system. A successful attack requires the victim to execute or interact with the malicious application on a system where the vulnerable Xcode version is installed.

Root Cause

Apple's advisory attributes the fix to "improved checks," which typically indicates missing validation of caller identity, entitlements, or access boundaries within an Xcode component. The specific component and data exposed are not disclosed in the public advisory. See the Apple Support Article for vendor-provided detail.

Attack Vector

An attacker delivers a malicious application to a macOS host running a vulnerable Xcode version. When the user launches or interacts with the application, it queries the affected Xcode component and retrieves private data it should not be authorized to read. The attack requires local execution and user interaction, so remote exploitation over the network is not viable.

No verified exploitation code is available for this vulnerability. Refer to the Full Disclosure Mailing List posting for additional public discussion.

Detection Methods for CVE-2025-24226

Indicators of Compromise

Unexpected processes reading files or IPC endpoints associated with Xcode under /Applications/Xcode.app or ~/Library/Developer/Xcode.
Non-developer applications invoking Xcode command-line tools such as xcrun, xcodebuild, or xcode-select on user endpoints.
Unsigned or ad-hoc signed binaries accessing developer directories shortly after installation.

Detection Strategies

Inventory installed Xcode versions across managed macOS endpoints and flag any host running a version earlier than 16.3.
Monitor file access telemetry for reads against Xcode-owned resources by processes outside the developer toolchain.
Correlate application installation events with subsequent access to developer tool paths to identify suspicious behavior chains.

Monitoring Recommendations

Enable endpoint telemetry that captures process execution, code signing status, and file access on developer workstations.
Alert on execution of Xcode command-line utilities by parent processes that are not IDEs, shells, or CI agents.
Track macOS Endpoint Security Framework events for cross-application data access on hosts with Xcode installed.

How to Mitigate CVE-2025-24226

Immediate Actions Required

Upgrade all Xcode installations to version 16.3 or later on every macOS host in the environment.
Audit installed macOS applications and remove untrusted or unsigned software from developer workstations.
Restrict developer tool installation to managed devices governed by an MDM policy.

Patch Information

Apple released the fix in Xcode 16.3. Download the updated version from the Mac App Store or Apple Developer portal. Full details are available in the Apple Support Article.

Workarounds

Avoid running untrusted applications on macOS hosts that have Xcode installed until the upgrade is applied.
Enforce Gatekeeper and Notarization policies to block execution of unsigned applications on developer endpoints.
Apply least-privilege principles by separating developer workstations from general-purpose user accounts.

bash

# Verify the installed Xcode version on macOS
xcodebuild -version

# Confirm the active developer directory
xcode-select -p

# After upgrading, re-run to validate 16.3 or later is active
xcodebuild -version | grep -E "Xcode 16\.(3|[4-9]|[1-9][0-9])"