CVE-2025-31249: Apple macOS Information Disclosure Flaw

CVE-2025-31249 Overview

CVE-2025-31249 is a logic flaw in Apple macOS that allows an application to access sensitive user data. Apple addressed the issue with improved checks in macOS Sequoia 15.5. The weakness is categorized under [CWE-285] Improper Authorization, indicating that authorization controls did not correctly enforce access boundaries to protected resources.

The vulnerability carries a CVSS 3.1 score of 7.1 and impacts confidentiality and integrity. Successful exploitation requires a low-privileged context but no user interaction. Apple published the fix in its May 2025 security update bundle.

Critical Impact
A malicious or compromised application running on an unpatched macOS host can read sensitive user data that should be restricted by macOS authorization checks.

Affected Products

Apple macOS versions prior to macOS Sequoia 15.5
Applications relying on macOS authorization enforcement for sensitive user data
Endpoints managed under earlier Sequoia branches without the May 2025 patch

Discovery Timeline

2025-05-12 - CVE-2025-31249 published to NVD
2025-05-12 - Apple releases macOS Sequoia 15.5 containing the fix
2025-11-03 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2025-31249

Vulnerability Analysis

The issue is an improper authorization defect in a macOS component shipped with versions prior to Sequoia 15.5. According to Apple's advisory, an app may be able to access sensitive user data due to a logic error in how the operating system validates access to protected resources. Apple addressed the flaw by adding improved checks to the relevant authorization path.

Because the weakness is classified as [CWE-285], the runtime allowed an action that policy should have denied. The condition does not require user interaction, which means a background or helper process holding only low privileges can trigger the data access path silently. The impact is primarily a confidentiality loss, with limited integrity impact and no availability impact.

Apple has not released technical internals, and there is no public proof-of-concept or in-the-wild exploitation reported. The EPSS probability is 0.248%, placing the CVE in the 15.858 percentile for likelihood of near-term exploitation.

Root Cause

The root cause is a logic error in an authorization check inside macOS. The component failed to correctly validate that the calling application was permitted to reach the protected user data store. Apple's remediation note states the issue was "addressed with improved checks," indicating the patch tightens the policy enforcement decision rather than redesigning the underlying API.

Attack Vector

An attacker first needs to deliver or coerce execution of a malicious application on the target macOS host. Once running, the application invokes the affected macOS interface and obtains access to sensitive user data that authorization checks should have blocked. No phishing prompt, consent dialog, or user click is required for the access to succeed. Apple does not publish exploitation details for this advisory. Refer to the Apple Support Article and the FullDisclosure Post May 2025 for vendor-provided context.

Detection Methods for CVE-2025-31249

Indicators of Compromise

Unsigned or newly installed applications issuing calls to system services that handle user data shortly after launch
macOS endpoints reporting a build number lower than 15.5 (sw_vers -productVersion)
Processes accessing files under ~/Library, Contacts, Calendars, Photos, or Mail stores without an associated TCC prompt event

Detection Strategies

Inventory macOS hosts and flag any endpoint running Sequoia builds older than 15.5
Hunt for child processes spawned by unsigned bundles that subsequently read protected user data paths
Correlate application install or update events with anomalous reads from user data directories

Monitoring Recommendations

Forward macOS Endpoint Security and Unified Log events into a central SIEM or data lake for retention and search
Alert on processes that access TCC-protected resources without a corresponding authorization grant
Track patch compliance dashboards for macOS 15.5 deployment across the fleet

How to Mitigate CVE-2025-31249

Immediate Actions Required

Upgrade all affected Macs to macOS Sequoia 15.5 or later via Software Update
Audit installed applications and remove untrusted or unsigned bundles
Restrict installation rights on managed endpoints to administrators only through MDM policy

Patch Information

Apple resolved CVE-2025-31249 in macOS Sequoia 15.5. The complete list of fixes is documented in the Apple Support Article. Administrators should deploy the update through their MDM platform or instruct users to install it from System Settings under General > Software Update.

Workarounds

No vendor-supplied workaround exists; applying macOS Sequoia 15.5 is the supported remediation
Limit execution of untrusted applications using Gatekeeper, notarization enforcement, and allowlisting until the patch is applied
Reduce the standing privileges of daily-use accounts to lower the impact of a malicious application launch

bash

# Confirm the macOS version on a host and trigger the update
sw_vers -productVersion
sudo softwareupdate --install --all --restart