CVE-2025-7779 Overview
CVE-2025-7779 is a local privilege escalation vulnerability in Acronis True Image for macOS caused by an insecure XPC service configuration. A local attacker with low privileges can abuse the misconfigured XPC service to execute code with elevated privileges. The flaw is tracked under CWE-269: Improper Privilege Management and affects multiple Acronis True Image builds on macOS. Acronis published details in Acronis Security Advisory SEC-8193.
Critical Impact
A local attacker can escalate privileges and compromise the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the affected macOS system, with a scope change extending impact beyond the vulnerable component.
Affected Products
- Acronis True Image (macOS) before build 42389
- Acronis True Image for SanDisk (macOS) before build 42198
- Acronis True Image for Western Digital (macOS) before build 42197
- Acronis True Image OEM (macOS) before build 42571
Discovery Timeline
- 2025-09-30 - CVE CVE-2025-7779 published to NVD
- 2026-06-17 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2025-7779
Vulnerability Analysis
CVE-2025-7779 stems from an insecure XPC (cross-process communication) service configuration in Acronis True Image on macOS. XPC is Apple's inter-process communication mechanism that lets applications delegate privileged tasks to helper services. When an XPC service does not properly validate the identity, entitlements, or code signature of connecting clients, any local process can invoke privileged operations exposed by that service.
Acronis True Image installs a helper component that runs with elevated privileges to perform backup, restore, and disk operations. Because the XPC service accepts requests without sufficient client verification, a low-privileged local user can connect to it and request privileged actions. The scope-changed impact reflects that operations executed by the helper affect resources beyond the caller's original privilege boundary.
Root Cause
The root cause is improper privilege management [CWE-269] in the XPC listener. The service does not enforce strict client validation (for example, verifying the connecting process's code signature, team identifier, or entitlements) before honoring requests. This allows arbitrary local clients to invoke methods intended only for the trusted parent application.
Attack Vector
Exploitation requires local access and low privileges but no user interaction. An attacker with a foothold on the macOS host connects to the exposed XPC endpoint and issues requests that trigger privileged file, process, or configuration operations. The result is code execution or state modification at the privilege level of the Acronis helper. No verified public exploit code is available at the time of writing; see Acronis Security Advisory SEC-8193 for vendor-supplied technical details.
Detection Methods for CVE-2025-7779
Indicators of Compromise
- Unexpected child processes spawned by Acronis True Image helper binaries running as root.
- New or modified files in system-protected directories following XPC activity from non-Acronis parent processes.
- Anomalous connections to Acronis XPC service Mach ports from unsigned or unrelated processes.
Detection Strategies
- Monitor launchd service invocations and correlate XPC client processes against the expected Acronis parent application code signature.
- Alert on privilege transitions where a standard user process results in a root-owned process tree originating from Acronis helpers.
- Baseline legitimate Acronis True Image behavior and flag deviations in helper-service invocation patterns.
Monitoring Recommendations
- Enable macOS Endpoint Security framework telemetry for process execution, code signing validation, and XPC connections.
- Retain logs from /var/log and unified logging subsystems related to Acronis components for retrospective hunting.
- Review installed helper tools in /Library/PrivilegedHelperTools/ and verify their versions match patched builds.
How to Mitigate CVE-2025-7779
Immediate Actions Required
- Update Acronis True Image for macOS to build 42389 or later.
- Update Acronis True Image for SanDisk to build 42198 or later, and Western Digital editions to build 42197 or later.
- Update Acronis True Image OEM (macOS) to build 42571 or later.
- Restrict local account access on macOS hosts running Acronis True Image and remove unused local users.
Patch Information
Acronis has released fixed builds addressing CVE-2025-7779. Administrators should install the corresponding patched build for their edition as listed in Acronis Security Advisory SEC-8193. No configuration change substitutes for applying the vendor patch.
Workarounds
- If patching cannot be performed immediately, uninstall Acronis True Image on affected macOS endpoints until the update is applied.
- Limit interactive local logon on affected systems to trusted administrators to reduce the local attack surface.
- Audit and remove any orphaned Acronis privileged helper tools from prior installations.
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
