CVE-2025-43187: Apple macOS hdiutil RCE Vulnerability

CVE-2025-43187 Overview

CVE-2025-43187 is a local code execution vulnerability affecting Apple macOS that allows an attacker to unexpectedly execute arbitrary code when running an hdiutil command. The hdiutil utility is a core macOS component used for manipulating disk images, making this vulnerability particularly concerning for system administrators and users who regularly work with .dmg files and disk image operations.

Apple addressed this security issue by removing the vulnerable code from the affected macOS versions. The vulnerability requires local access and low privileges to exploit, but can result in high impact to confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the affected system.

Critical Impact

Local attackers with low privileges can achieve arbitrary code execution through the hdiutil command, potentially leading to full system compromise on unpatched macOS systems.

Affected Products

• macOS Sequoia versions prior to 15.6
• macOS Sonoma versions prior to 14.7.7
• macOS Ventura versions prior to 13.7.7

Discovery Timeline

• 2025-08-29 - CVE-2025-43187 published to NVD
• 2025-11-03 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2025-43187

Vulnerability Analysis

This vulnerability exists within the hdiutil command-line utility, a fundamental macOS tool used for creating, converting, and mounting disk images. The flaw allows unexpected arbitrary code execution during hdiutil operations, indicating a potential command injection or unsafe code path within the utility's processing logic.

The local attack vector means an attacker needs either physical access to the target system or the ability to execute commands through an existing foothold. Once exploited, the attacker can execute code with the privileges of the current user, potentially escalating to full system compromise if the user has administrative access.

Apple's remediation approach of removing the vulnerable code entirely rather than patching it suggests the affected functionality was either deemed unnecessary or the vulnerability was fundamental to its design. This aggressive fix indicates the severity of the underlying issue.

Root Cause

The root cause relates to vulnerable code within the hdiutil utility that could be triggered during disk image operations. While Apple has not disclosed specific technical details, the nature of the vulnerability—arbitrary code execution through a command-line utility—suggests potential issues with:

• Unsafe handling of disk image metadata or embedded content
• Improper validation of input parameters passed to internal functions
• Unsafe code paths triggered during specific disk image operations

Apple chose to remove the vulnerable code entirely, indicating the affected functionality was either redundant or could not be safely remediated.

Attack Vector

The attack requires local access to the target macOS system with low-privilege user credentials. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by:

1. Crafting a malicious disk image or input that triggers the vulnerable code path
2. Executing an hdiutil command that processes the malicious content
3. Achieving arbitrary code execution in the context of the current user

The attack does not require user interaction beyond the victim executing an hdiutil command, which could be triggered through social engineering or by placing malicious disk images in locations where they would be processed automatically.

Since the vulnerability requires local access, common attack scenarios include post-exploitation privilege escalation, lateral movement within compromised networks, or exploitation by malicious insiders.

Detection Methods for CVE-2025-43187

Indicators of Compromise

• Unexpected hdiutil process executions with unusual arguments or parent processes
• Child processes spawned from hdiutil that are atypical for disk image operations
• Presence of suspicious .dmg or disk image files in user-accessible directories
• Anomalous code execution traces originating from /usr/bin/hdiutil

Detection Strategies

• Monitor process creation events for hdiutil commands followed by unexpected child process spawns
• Implement endpoint detection rules for suspicious process chains involving hdiutil
• Deploy behavioral analysis to detect code execution patterns inconsistent with normal disk image operations
• Audit user command history for unusual hdiutil invocations with malformed or suspicious parameters

Monitoring Recommendations

• Enable comprehensive endpoint logging for process creation and command-line arguments on macOS systems
• Configure SentinelOne agents to monitor for exploitation attempts targeting hdiutil
• Review macOS Unified Logs for hdiutil-related errors or anomalous behavior patterns
• Implement file integrity monitoring for the hdiutil binary and related system components

How to Mitigate CVE-2025-43187

Immediate Actions Required

• Update macOS Sequoia to version 15.6 or later immediately
• Update macOS Sonoma to version 14.7.7 or later immediately
• Update macOS Ventura to version 13.7.7 or later immediately
• Audit systems for signs of prior exploitation before and after patching
• Restrict hdiutil usage to trusted users where operationally feasible

Patch Information

Apple has released security updates that address this vulnerability by removing the vulnerable code from the hdiutil utility. The following patched versions are available:

Additional technical details are available on the Full Disclosure Mailing List.

Workarounds

• Limit hdiutil command execution to trusted administrative users only
• Implement application allowlisting to restrict which users can execute hdiutil
• Avoid processing disk images from untrusted or unknown sources until patches are applied
• Monitor and restrict access to directories where disk images are commonly stored or processed

# Check current macOS version to verify patch status
sw_vers -productVersion

# Verify hdiutil binary integrity (compare against known good hash after patching)
shasum -a 256 /usr/bin/hdiutil

# Monitor hdiutil process executions (for security auditing)
log stream --predicate 'process == "hdiutil"' --level debug