CVE-2025-43307: Apple macOS Auth Bypass Vulnerability

CVE-2025-43307 Overview

CVE-2025-43307 is an authorization vulnerability in Apple macOS that allows a local application to access sensitive user data. Apple addressed the issue with improved checks to prevent unauthorized actions. The flaw is categorized under [CWE-863] Incorrect Authorization and affects macOS versions prior to macOS Tahoe 26.

The vulnerability requires local access and no user interaction, but does not enable code execution or data modification. Exploitation results in confidentiality impact only, exposing user data to unauthorized processes running on the same system.

Critical Impact
A malicious or misbehaving application installed on a macOS device may read sensitive user data that should be protected by system authorization controls.

Affected Products

Apple macOS versions prior to macOS Tahoe 26
Systems where unprivileged applications can execute locally
Endpoints without the September 2025 Apple security update applied

Discovery Timeline

2025-09-15 - CVE-2025-43307 published to the National Vulnerability Database (NVD)
2026-06-17 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2025-43307

Vulnerability Analysis

The vulnerability is an incorrect authorization weakness [CWE-863] in macOS. Apple's advisory states the issue was resolved with improved checks to prevent unauthorized actions. An application running on the local system could bypass those checks and reach data belonging to the user.

Exploitation is limited to local attack vectors. An adversary must already have a foothold on the endpoint, such as an installed application, malicious package, or a script executed by the user. The impact is confined to information disclosure with no integrity or availability impact.

Root Cause

The root cause is missing or insufficient authorization enforcement in a macOS component that gates access to sensitive user data. Apple has not published component-level details in the public advisory. The fix in macOS Tahoe 26 adds stronger validation before privileged operations proceed.

Attack Vector

An attacker delivers or installs an unprivileged application on a target macOS system. The application invokes the affected code path and requests data it should not be authorized to receive. Because the authorization check is incomplete, macOS returns the sensitive information to the calling process. No user interaction is required after the application runs.

Apple has not disclosed a proof of concept, and no public exploit is currently listed in Exploit-DB or the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog. See the Apple Support Article and the Full Disclosure Mailing List Post for the vendor and community references.

Detection Methods for CVE-2025-43307

Indicators of Compromise

Unsigned or unexpected applications reading files or system data outside their declared entitlements
Processes accessing user directories such as ~/Library without a corresponding user action
macOS Unified Log entries showing repeated authorization requests from a single non-Apple process

Detection Strategies

Inventory macOS endpoints and flag any host still running a build older than macOS Tahoe 26
Baseline expected process-to-file access patterns and alert on deviations by third-party apps
Correlate installer telemetry with subsequent access to sensitive user paths to identify suspicious sequences

Monitoring Recommendations

Enable Endpoint Security framework telemetry for file access and process execution events
Forward macOS Unified Logs to a central logging platform for retention and search
Monitor Transparency, Consent, and Control (TCC) database changes and permission prompts across the fleet

How to Mitigate CVE-2025-43307

Immediate Actions Required

Upgrade affected Macs to macOS Tahoe 26 or later using Software Update
Audit installed applications and remove untrusted or unused software
Restrict administrative rights on managed endpoints to limit local application installation

Patch Information

Apple resolved CVE-2025-43307 in macOS Tahoe 26. Details and the full list of addressed CVEs are available in the Apple Support Article. Organizations should deploy the update through Mobile Device Management (MDM) or Apple Software Update to ensure fleet-wide coverage.

Workarounds

No official workaround has been published by Apple; applying the patch is the supported remediation
Enforce application allow-listing through MDM to block unapproved binaries from executing
Limit standard user accounts from installing new applications and require administrator approval

bash

# Verify macOS version and trigger software update on managed endpoints
sw_vers -productVersion
sudo softwareupdate --install --all --restart