CVE-2025-43499: Apple macOS Privilege Escalation Vulnerability

CVE-2025-43499 Overview

CVE-2025-43499 is an access control weakness [CWE-284] affecting multiple Apple operating systems. The flaw allowed an app to access sensitive user data due to insufficient entitlement checks. Apple addressed the issue by adding additional entitlement validation across iOS, iPadOS, and macOS.

The vulnerability requires local access and user interaction, limiting its utility to attackers who can already deliver a malicious app to the target device. Successful exploitation results in disclosure of sensitive information without affecting system integrity or availability.

Critical Impact
A local app on an unpatched Apple device can bypass entitlement enforcement and read sensitive user data that should be gated by Apple's permission model.

Affected Products

Apple iOS versions prior to 18.7.2 and iPadOS versions prior to 18.7.2
Apple macOS Sequoia versions prior to 15.7.2 and macOS Sonoma versions prior to 14.8.2
Apple macOS Tahoe versions prior to 26.1

Discovery Timeline

2025-11-04 - CVE-2025-43499 published to the National Vulnerability Database
2026-09-26 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2025-43499

Vulnerability Analysis

The vulnerability is categorized as Improper Access Control [CWE-284]. Apple's security advisory states the issue was addressed with additional entitlement checks, indicating the affected component previously accepted requests from apps that lacked the required entitlement.

Entitlements are signed key-value pairs that grant an app rights to protected system resources. When a service does not verify the caller's entitlement correctly, an app without the appropriate privilege can invoke protected functionality. In this case, the gap allowed access to sensitive user data.

The attack is local and requires user interaction, consistent with scenarios where a user installs or launches a malicious or trojanized application. Exploitation does not require elevated privileges on the device.

Root Cause

The root cause is a missing or insufficient entitlement check in an affected Apple system component. Apple's remediation adds entitlement validation to prevent unauthorized callers from reaching the protected code path. Apple's advisories do not publicly identify the specific component or framework involved.

Attack Vector

An attacker must deliver and execute an application on the target Apple device. Once running locally, the app invokes the vulnerable interface without holding the required entitlement and retrieves sensitive user data. No network access is required.

No verified public exploit code is available for CVE-2025-43499. Technical details beyond Apple's advisory text have not been published. Refer to the Apple Support Document #125633, Apple Support Document #125634, Apple Support Document #125635, and Apple Support Document #125636 for vendor guidance.

Detection Methods for CVE-2025-43499

Indicators of Compromise

No public indicators of compromise have been published for CVE-2025-43499.
Unexpected access patterns to protected user data by non-system applications may warrant investigation.

Detection Strategies

Inventory Apple endpoints and compare installed OS build numbers against patched versions (iOS/iPadOS 18.7.2, macOS 14.8.2, 15.7.2, 26.1).
Review installed application telemetry for unsigned, newly introduced, or sideloaded apps that pre-date patch deployment.
Correlate app launch events with unusual access to user data directories or privacy-protected resources.

Monitoring Recommendations

Monitor macOS Unified Logs for anomalous entitlement-related entries and privacy framework activity.
Track MDM compliance reports to identify devices lagging on security updates.
Alert on applications installed outside approved distribution channels on managed endpoints.

How to Mitigate CVE-2025-43499

Immediate Actions Required

Deploy Apple's security updates to all managed endpoints as the primary remediation.
Restrict installation of untrusted applications through MDM policies and Gatekeeper configuration.
Audit third-party apps that request access to sensitive user data and remove any that are unneeded.

Patch Information

Apple fixed CVE-2025-43499 in iOS 18.7.2, iPadOS 18.7.2, macOS Sonoma 14.8.2, macOS Sequoia 15.7.2, and macOS Tahoe 26.1. Patch details are documented in the Apple Support Document #125633, Apple Support Document #125634, Apple Support Document #125635, and Apple Support Document #125636.

Workarounds

No vendor-provided workaround exists; applying the OS update is required.
Reduce exposure by limiting app installation sources to the App Store or notarized developers.
Enforce least-privilege configurations and disable unused privacy permissions for installed applications.

bash

# Verify macOS build version against patched releases
sw_vers -productVersion
softwareupdate --list
sudo softwareupdate --install --all --restart