CVE-2025-31250: Apple macOS Information Disclosure Flaw

CVE-2025-31250 Overview

CVE-2025-31250 is an information disclosure vulnerability in Apple macOS that allows a local application to access sensitive user data. Apple addressed the issue with improved privacy controls in macOS Sequoia 15.5. The flaw is categorized under [CWE-200] (Exposure of Sensitive Information to an Unauthorized Actor).

Exploitation requires local access and user interaction, limiting remote attack scenarios. However, a malicious or compromised application running on an affected macOS system can leverage the weakness to read data outside of its intended privacy boundary.

Critical Impact
A local application on macOS prior to Sequoia 15.5 can bypass privacy controls to access sensitive user data without authorization.

Affected Products

Apple macOS versions prior to macOS Sequoia 15.5
Systems running third-party applications with local execution privileges on affected macOS builds
Endpoints not yet updated through Apple's May 2025 security release cycle

Discovery Timeline

2025-05-12 - CVE-2025-31250 published to NVD following Apple's security advisory
2026-06-17 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2025-31250

Vulnerability Analysis

The vulnerability resides in macOS privacy control logic that governs how applications request and receive access to user data. An application running locally can reach sensitive resources that should be gated by the operating system's privacy framework. Apple resolved the issue by tightening these privacy controls in macOS Sequoia 15.5.

Because the attack vector is local and requires user interaction, exploitation typically depends on a user launching or interacting with a crafted or trojanized application. The impact is limited to confidentiality; integrity and availability are unaffected according to the published metrics.

Root Cause

The root cause is insufficient enforcement of privacy controls within macOS, classified as [CWE-200]. The prior implementation permitted an app to obtain data that should have been restricted by user consent or system entitlement checks.

Attack Vector

An attacker must convince a user to run a malicious or manipulated application on the target Mac. Once running, the app queries system resources or APIs that expose sensitive user data due to the weakened privacy boundary. No network access, elevated privileges, or authentication is required beyond ordinary local execution.

Apple has not published exploitation details beyond the summary in the Apple Support Article. No public proof-of-concept, exploit code, or in-the-wild abuse has been recorded. Additional context appears in the Full Disclosure May 2025 Post.

Detection Methods for CVE-2025-31250

Indicators of Compromise

Unexpected access attempts to protected user data locations such as ~/Library, Contacts, Calendar, or Photos databases by non-sanctioned applications
Applications invoking privacy-scoped APIs without corresponding Transparency, Consent, and Control (TCC) prompts recorded in system logs
Newly installed or unsigned applications on macOS hosts running builds earlier than 15.5

Detection Strategies

Inventory macOS endpoints and flag any host reporting a build number earlier than macOS Sequoia 15.5
Correlate process execution telemetry with file access events targeting privacy-protected directories
Review TCC database (TCC.db) entries for anomalous grants and application bundle identifiers not aligned with approved software

Monitoring Recommendations

Enable endpoint telemetry that captures process creation, file access, and API usage on macOS fleets
Alert on applications reading sensitive user data shortly after first execution or after code-signing changes
Track patch compliance against Apple's May 2025 security release to prioritize unpatched hosts

How to Mitigate CVE-2025-31250

Immediate Actions Required

Update all affected macOS systems to macOS Sequoia 15.5 or later using Software Update
Audit installed applications and remove untrusted or unsigned software from managed endpoints
Restrict installation of third-party applications on endpoints handling sensitive user data

Patch Information

Apple released the fix in macOS Sequoia 15.5. Full advisory details are available in the Apple Support Article. Administrators managing fleets should push the update through Mobile Device Management (MDM) tooling and verify installation via build number reporting.

Workarounds

Limit local user execution rights and restrict application installation to vetted sources only
Enforce Gatekeeper and notarization requirements to block unsigned applications from launching
Use MDM configuration profiles to control TCC permissions granted to third-party applications

bash

# Verify macOS build meets or exceeds Sequoia 15.5
sw_vers -productVersion

# Trigger Software Update to install available Apple security patches
sudo softwareupdate -i -a --restart