A permissions issue was addressed by removing the vulnerable code. This issue is fixed in macOS Sequoia 15.6, macOS Sonoma 14.7.7, macOS Ventura 13.7....
Description
A permissions issue was addressed by removing the vulnerable code. This issue is fixed in macOS Sequoia 15.6, macOS Sonoma 14.7.7, macOS Ventura 13.7.7. A malicious app may be able to gain root privil...
AI Analyst Comment
Remediation
Update A permissions issue was addressed by removing the vulnerable Multiple Products to the latest version. Monitor for exploitation attempts and review access logs.
Executive Summary:
A critical vulnerability has been identified in multiple versions of Apple's macOS operating system. This flaw allows a malicious application, once running on a device, to gain complete administrative control (root privileges). Successful exploitation could lead to total system compromise, allowing an attacker to steal sensitive data, install persistent malware, or disrupt critical operations.
Vulnerability Details
CVE-ID: CVE-2025-43199
Affected Software: Apple macOS
Affected Versions:
Vulnerability:
The vulnerability is a local privilege escalation flaw resulting from an unspecified permissions issue within the macOS operating system. An attacker who can execute a low-privileged malicious application on a target system can exploit this flaw to elevate their access to the highest level (root). This typically involves the malicious application making a specially crafted call to a vulnerable system component, bypassing standard security checks and granting it unrestricted control over the entire operating system. The vendor has indicated the fix involves the complete removal of the vulnerable code path.
Business Impact
This vulnerability is rated as Critical with a CVSS score of 9.8. Exploitation by a threat actor would have a severe impact on the organization. Gaining root-level access on an endpoint allows an attacker to bypass all security controls, leading to a complete loss of confidentiality, integrity, and availability. Specific risks include the theft and exfiltration of sensitive corporate data, deployment of ransomware or spyware, modification or deletion of critical system files, and the ability to use the compromised machine as a staging point to attack other systems within the corporate network.
Remediation Plan
Immediate Action:
Apply the security updates provided by Apple to all affected systems immediately. Upgrade to the following or later versions:
Proactive Monitoring:
system.log, authorization logs) for evidence of unauthorized privilege escalation attempts or unexpected use ofsudo./System/,/Library/,/private/) by non-standard processes.Compensating Controls:
If immediate patching is not feasible, implement the following controls to reduce risk:
Exploitation Status
Public Exploit Available: False
Analyst Notes:
As of Jul 30, 2025, there are no known public proof-of-concept exploits or reports of this vulnerability being actively exploited in the wild. However, due to the critical severity and the high value of privilege escalation vulnerabilities, it is highly likely that both security researchers and threat actors will prioritize developing an exploit. This vulnerability is not currently listed on the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog.
Analyst Recommendation
Given the critical CVSS score of 9.8, this vulnerability represents a significant risk to the organization. We strongly recommend that all affected macOS endpoints are patched immediately by updating to the versions specified in the remediation plan. This vulnerability should be treated as a top priority for patching cycles. While there is no current evidence of exploitation, the potential for complete system compromise necessitates urgent action. Organizations should also implement the recommended monitoring and compensating controls as part of a defense-in-depth strategy.