CVE-2025-43206

Vulnerability

Details

CVE-2025-43206 is a directory path parsing vulnerability in macOS that arises from improper handling of directory paths. The root cause is a path validation flaw that allows an application to access files or directories that should be protected by macOS's sandbox or user data protection mechanisms. The issue was resolved through improved path validation in the system's file handling logic [1][4].

Exploitation

The attack vector requires a local application, which could be a malicious app downloaded from the App Store or elsewhere, or a compromised legitimate application. No special network access or elevated privileges are needed for the exploitation; the app only needs to be executed on the target system. By crafting a specially malformed directory path, the app can bypass the intended path restrictions and read or write to protected locations [1][2][3].

Impact

Successful exploitation of this vulnerability allows an application to access protected user data, which may include personal documents, credentials, or other sensitive information stored in user directories. This could lead to unauthorized data access and potential further compromise of the user's privacy or system integrity [1].

Mitigation

Apple has addressed CVE-2025-43206 in macOS Sequoia 15.6, macOS Sonoma 14.7.7, and macOS Ventura 13.7.7. Users are strongly advised to update to these versions by going to System Settings > Software Update. No workaround is available for unpatched systems [1][2][3][4].