CVE-2025-30451: Apple macOS Information Disclosure Flaw

CVE-2025-30451 Overview

CVE-2025-30451 is an information disclosure vulnerability in Apple macOS. The flaw allows a local application to access sensitive user data due to inadequate redaction of sensitive information. Apple resolved the issue in macOS Sequoia 15.4 through improved redaction routines.

The vulnerability is categorized under [CWE-200] Information Exposure. Exploitation requires local access and user interaction, but successful abuse can reveal confidential data to unauthorized applications running on the affected system.

Critical Impact
A malicious or unprivileged application installed on macOS can read sensitive user data that should have been redacted, resulting in confidentiality loss on affected endpoints.

Affected Products

Apple macOS versions prior to Sequoia 15.4
Apple macOS Sequoia (all releases before 15.4)
Endpoints and workstations running vulnerable macOS builds

Discovery Timeline

2025-03-31 - CVE-2025-30451 published to the National Vulnerability Database (NVD)
2025-04 - Details posted to the Full Disclosure Mailing List
2026-06-17 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2025-30451

Vulnerability Analysis

The vulnerability resides in a macOS component that failed to properly redact sensitive information before exposing data to applications. When the affected subsystem returned data to a requesting process, portions of sensitive user content remained visible in the response.

Apple addressed the issue by improving the redaction logic so that sensitive fields are stripped or masked before being returned. The advisory does not identify the specific component, but Apple's fix is included in macOS Sequoia 15.4. Consult the Apple Support Article for the vendor's remediation details.

Root Cause

The root cause is insufficient redaction of sensitive information [CWE-200]. Application programming interfaces or system services returned data structures that included user data that should have been filtered. The absence of adequate sanitization allowed any local application invoking those interfaces to observe protected values.

Attack Vector

Exploitation requires local access to the macOS system and user interaction. A threat actor must convince the user to run or install a malicious application. Once executing, the application queries the vulnerable interface and retrieves sensitive data without triggering an authorization prompt. Network-based exploitation is not applicable to this issue.

No public proof-of-concept exploit code is available, and the vulnerability is not listed in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog. Further technical context is available in the Full Disclosure Mailing List Post.

Detection Methods for CVE-2025-30451

Indicators of Compromise

Unsigned or newly installed applications making unusual queries to system data providers or user data services
Processes reading from user profile paths shortly after installation without corresponding user activity
Anomalous access patterns to macOS system frameworks that return user metadata

Detection Strategies

Inventory macOS endpoints and flag any device running a build older than macOS Sequoia 15.4
Monitor for third-party applications that access sensitive user data APIs without a legitimate business purpose
Correlate application install events with subsequent access to user-scoped data stores

Monitoring Recommendations

Enable Endpoint Security Framework (ESF) telemetry to capture process execution and file access events on macOS hosts
Track application code signing information and quarantine attributes to identify unvetted binaries
Review Unified Logs for unexpected API calls to system services that handle user data

How to Mitigate CVE-2025-30451

Immediate Actions Required

Update all Apple macOS devices to macOS Sequoia 15.4 or later using Software Update
Audit installed third-party applications and remove any that are unnecessary or untrusted
Restrict installation of applications from outside the Mac App Store or notarized developer channels

Patch Information

Apple released the fix in macOS Sequoia 15.4. The patch introduces improved redaction of sensitive information in the affected subsystem. Administrators should deploy the update through Software Update, Mobile Device Management (MDM) profiles, or Apple Business Manager. Refer to the Apple Support Article for the full advisory and build details.

Workarounds

Limit local user accounts to non-administrative privileges to reduce the pool of applications that can be installed
Enforce application allowlisting through MDM to block untrusted binaries from executing
Educate users to avoid running applications from unknown sources until the patch is applied

bash

# Confirm the macOS version meets the patched build
sw_vers -productVersion

# Trigger a software update check to install macOS Sequoia 15.4 or later
sudo softwareupdate --install --all --restart