CVE-2025-46280: Apple macOS Buffer Overflow Vulnerability

CVE-2025-46280 Overview

CVE-2025-46280 is an out-of-bounds read vulnerability in Apple macOS that can be triggered by a malicious application. The flaw allows a local app to read memory outside of allocated bounds, causing unexpected system termination. Apple addressed the issue with improved bounds checking in macOS Tahoe 26. The vulnerability is categorized under [CWE-125] (Out-of-bounds Read) and requires local access with low privileges to exploit. While the impact is limited to availability, an attacker can leverage this flaw to crash the operating system and disrupt user workflows.

Critical Impact
A local application can trigger an out-of-bounds read that results in unexpected system termination on unpatched macOS installations.

Affected Products

Apple macOS versions prior to macOS Tahoe 26
Systems running affected macOS releases on supported Apple hardware
Applications and workflows dependent on continuous macOS availability

Discovery Timeline

2026-05-26 - CVE-2025-46280 published to NVD
2026-05-27 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2025-46280

Vulnerability Analysis

The vulnerability is an out-of-bounds read condition within a macOS component. When a malicious or malformed app interacts with the affected code path, the process reads memory beyond the bounds of an allocated buffer. This results in unexpected system termination, impacting availability of the host. The EPSS score of 0.005% reflects very low observed exploitation likelihood, but the flaw remains relevant for systems running unsupported workloads or kiosk-style deployments where uptime is critical. Apple resolved the defect through improved bounds checking, ensuring buffer accesses are validated before being performed.

Root Cause

The root cause is missing or insufficient bounds validation in a macOS component prior to performing a memory read. Without proper length checks, attacker-controlled input or state can cause the affected routine to dereference memory outside the intended buffer region. Apple's advisory describes the remediation as improved bounds checking, consistent with [CWE-125].

Attack Vector

Exploitation requires local access to the affected macOS device and the ability to execute an application. No user interaction is needed once the app runs. The attacker uses the malicious app to drive the vulnerable code path, triggering the out-of-bounds read and forcing system termination. Confidentiality and integrity are not affected; the impact is limited to availability through denial of service.

No public proof-of-concept code or verified exploit examples are available for this vulnerability. See the Apple Support Article for vendor-supplied technical context.

Detection Methods for CVE-2025-46280

Indicators of Compromise

Repeated unexpected kernel panics or system terminations correlated with a specific user application
Crash reports in /Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/ referencing out-of-bounds memory access
Unsigned or recently installed applications executing immediately before system crashes

Detection Strategies

Collect and analyze macOS crash and panic logs for recurring signatures tied to the same parent process
Inventory macOS endpoints and identify hosts not yet upgraded to macOS Tahoe 26
Correlate application install events with subsequent reboot or termination telemetry

Monitoring Recommendations

Forward macOS endpoint telemetry, crash reports, and process execution events to a central analytics platform
Alert on abnormal rates of system terminations across managed macOS fleets
Track execution of newly introduced or unsigned binaries that precede availability incidents

How to Mitigate CVE-2025-46280

Immediate Actions Required

Upgrade affected systems to macOS Tahoe 26, which contains Apple's bounds-checking fix
Restrict installation and execution of untrusted applications on macOS endpoints
Validate that endpoint management tooling reports accurate macOS version data

Patch Information

Apple resolved CVE-2025-46280 in macOS Tahoe 26. Administrators should apply this update through Software Update or managed MDM deployment workflows. Refer to the Apple Support Article for the full list of components addressed and release details.

Workarounds

Limit local user privileges and restrict the ability to install arbitrary applications
Enforce Gatekeeper and notarization requirements to block unsigned or untrusted binaries
Use mobile device management policies to restrict application execution on macOS endpoints until patching completes

bash

# Verify the installed macOS version on a target endpoint
sw_vers -productVersion

# Trigger a software update check via the command line
sudo softwareupdate --list
sudo softwareupdate --install --all --restart