CVE-2025-43451: Apple macOS Information Disclosure Flaw

CVE-2025-43451 Overview

CVE-2025-43451 is a permissions vulnerability in Apple macOS that allows a local application to access sensitive user data. Apple addressed the issue by removing the vulnerable code in macOS Tahoe 26. The flaw is categorized under [CWE-284] Improper Access Control and requires local access with low privileges to exploit. No user interaction is required, and the impact is limited to confidentiality of user data.

Critical Impact

A malicious or compromised application running locally on an unpatched macOS system can bypass permission boundaries and read sensitive user data without triggering user consent prompts.

Affected Products

• Apple macOS versions prior to macOS Tahoe 26
• Systems running affected macOS builds with third-party applications installed
• Endpoints where untrusted apps may execute under standard user contexts

Discovery Timeline

• 2026-05-26 - CVE-2025-43451 published to NVD
• 2026-05-27 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2025-43451

Vulnerability Analysis

The vulnerability stems from improper access control within a macOS component. Apple's advisory states the issue was resolved by removing the vulnerable code rather than restructuring permission checks. This indicates the affected functionality was non-essential or could be eliminated without functional regression.

The flaw allows a local application to read sensitive user data that should be protected by macOS Transparency, Consent, and Control (TCC) or similar permission frameworks. Exploitation requires the attacker to execute code locally on the target system, typically through a malicious or trojanized application. The vulnerability does not enable code execution, privilege escalation to root, or data modification — its impact is restricted to confidentiality.

Root Cause

The root cause is improper access control [CWE-284]. A macOS component exposed an interface or code path that did not adequately verify whether the calling process held the required entitlements or user consent before returning protected data. Because Apple's remediation removed the code entirely, the affected path was likely a legacy or unintended interface.

Attack Vector

The attack vector is local. An attacker must first achieve code execution on the target Mac, typically by convincing a user to install or run a malicious application. Once running, the application invokes the vulnerable code path to retrieve sensitive user data without triggering the consent prompts that normally gate access. No network access, no elevated privileges beyond a standard user account, and no user interaction beyond launching the app are required.

No public proof-of-concept exploit is available, and the issue is not listed in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog.

Detection Methods for CVE-2025-43451

Indicators of Compromise

• Unsigned or ad-hoc signed applications launching from user-writable locations such as ~/Downloads, /tmp, or ~/Library/Application Support
• Processes accessing protected user data directories without corresponding TCC prompt events in tccd logs
• Unexpected reads of files under ~/Library, ~/Documents, or browser profile directories by recently installed applications

Detection Strategies

• Monitor tccd and sandboxd system logs for anomalous access patterns where applications retrieve protected data without an approval entry
• Baseline expected application behavior and alert on processes that access sensitive directories outside their typical scope
• Track installation and first-execution events for new applications and correlate with subsequent file access activity

Monitoring Recommendations

• Enable unified logging collection from macOS endpoints and forward to a centralized analytics platform
• Inventory macOS build versions across the fleet and flag any host not running macOS Tahoe 26 or later
• Review endpoint telemetry for processes that read files under user home directories shortly after installation

How to Mitigate CVE-2025-43451

Immediate Actions Required

• Upgrade all macOS systems to macOS Tahoe 26, which contains the fix per Apple's advisory
• Audit installed third-party applications and remove any that are unsigned, untrusted, or no longer required
• Restrict standard users from installing arbitrary applications via mobile device management (MDM) policies

Patch Information

Apple released the fix in macOS Tahoe 26 by removing the vulnerable code path. Administrators should deploy the update through Software Update or their MDM platform. Refer to the Apple Support Article for the complete list of addressed CVEs and version details.

Workarounds

• No vendor-supplied workaround exists; updating to macOS Tahoe 26 is the only complete remediation
• Until patching is possible, limit installation of untrusted applications and enforce Gatekeeper and notarization requirements
• Apply application allowlisting through MDM to block execution of unapproved binaries on managed Macs

# Verify macOS version on endpoints
sw_vers -productVersion

# Trigger software update check
sudo softwareupdate --list
sudo softwareupdate --install --all --restart