CVE-2025-43524 Overview
CVE-2025-43524 is a sandbox escape vulnerability affecting Apple macOS. The flaw allows a malicious application to break out of its sandbox container and access resources beyond its assigned privilege boundary. Apple addressed the issue by introducing additional sandbox restrictions in macOS Sequoia 15.7.7, macOS Sonoma 14.8.7, and macOS Tahoe 26.2. The vulnerability is classified under [CWE-284] Improper Access Control. Local code execution is required for exploitation, and successful exploitation impacts confidentiality, integrity, and availability across the system scope.
Critical Impact
A local application running inside the macOS sandbox can escape its container, gaining access to system resources, user data, and other processes outside its permitted boundary.
Affected Products
- Apple macOS Sequoia versions prior to 15.7.7
- Apple macOS Sonoma versions prior to 14.8.7
- Apple macOS Tahoe versions prior to 26.2
Discovery Timeline
- 2026-05-12 - CVE-2025-43524 published to NVD
- 2026-05-13 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2025-43524
Vulnerability Analysis
The vulnerability resides in the macOS sandbox enforcement layer. The App Sandbox is a kernel-level access control mechanism that restricts what resources an application can access. Apple's advisory states that the issue was resolved by applying additional sandbox restrictions, indicating that the original policy permitted access to a resource or interface that should have been denied.
An attacker who can execute a sandboxed application on the target system can leverage the missing restriction to interact with resources outside the sandbox boundary. The scope change in the CVSS vector confirms that exploitation impacts components beyond the vulnerable process itself.
Root Cause
The root cause is improper access control [CWE-284] within the sandbox policy configuration. The sandbox profile failed to restrict at least one interface or resource that should have been inaccessible to confined applications. Apple's fix introduces additional sandbox rules to close the gap rather than modifying the application logic.
Attack Vector
Exploitation requires local access and low privileges. An attacker must first deliver and execute a malicious application on the target macOS system, typically through social engineering, a supply chain compromise, or as a second-stage payload from another vulnerability. No user interaction is required once the sandboxed application runs. The malicious app then invokes the unrestricted interface to read protected files, manipulate other processes, or escalate privileges within the user session.
No public proof-of-concept code is available. Refer to the Apple Support Article for vendor-published technical details.
Detection Methods for CVE-2025-43524
Indicators of Compromise
- Sandboxed processes spawning child processes or accessing file paths outside their container directory (~/Library/Containers/<bundle-id>/).
- Unexpected XPC or Mach IPC traffic originating from App Store or notarized applications targeting privileged system services.
- Sandboxed applications writing to or reading from user data directories outside their entitlement scope.
Detection Strategies
- Monitor Endpoint Security framework events (ES_EVENT_TYPE_NOTIFY_EXEC, ES_EVENT_TYPE_NOTIFY_OPEN) for sandbox boundary violations.
- Audit sandboxd log entries for denied operations followed by successful retries through alternative interfaces.
- Correlate process lineage with code signing entitlements to identify sandboxed applications behaving outside expected scope.
Monitoring Recommendations
- Enable unified logging subsystem capture for com.apple.sandbox and forward to centralized log analysis.
- Track macOS version inventory and flag endpoints running unpatched Sequoia, Sonoma, or Tahoe builds.
- Establish baseline behavior for sandboxed applications and alert on deviations involving file system or IPC activity.
How to Mitigate CVE-2025-43524
Immediate Actions Required
- Update affected systems to macOS Sequoia 15.7.7, macOS Sonoma 14.8.7, or macOS Tahoe 26.2 immediately.
- Inventory all macOS endpoints and prioritize patching for systems running untrusted or third-party sandboxed applications.
- Restrict installation of unsigned or unnotarized applications via Gatekeeper policy enforcement.
Patch Information
Apple released fixes in macOS Sequoia 15.7.7, macOS Sonoma 14.8.7, and macOS Tahoe 26.2. The patches add additional sandbox restrictions to block the unauthorized access path. Full details are documented in the Apple Support Article.
Workarounds
- Limit execution of untrusted applications by enforcing Gatekeeper and requiring notarization for all installed software.
- Apply Mobile Device Management (MDM) configuration profiles to block installation of applications from unidentified developers.
- Reduce attack surface by removing unused sandboxed applications and monitoring for anomalous IPC behavior until patches are deployed.
# Verify installed macOS version meets the patched baseline
sw_vers -productVersion
# Trigger macOS software update check
sudo softwareupdate --list
sudo softwareupdate --install --all --restart
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
