CVE-2025-24176
Apple Macos ≤ 13.7.3
Raw vector
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:NCVSS and EPSS are reproduced from their sources (NVD, FIRST EPSS). Risk Priority is our own derived reading, not an NVD score.
Summary
CVE-2025-24176 is a high-severity Incorrect Default Permissions (CWE-276) vulnerability in Apple Macos. Its CVSS base score is 7.1 (High).
Operationally, exploitation aligns with the MITRE ATT&CK technique Services File Permissions Weakness (T1574.010); ranked at the 12th percentile by exploit likelihood (below the median); it is not currently listed in the CISA KEV catalog.
The strongest mitigations our analysis identified map to AC-3 (Access Enforcement) and AC-6 (Least Privilege) — see the control section below for these in your framework.
Deeper analysis AI-assisted summary
Synthesised by an AI model from the NVD description and linked references — a reading aid, not an authoritative source.
CVE-2025-24176 is a permissions issue addressed through improved validation in macOS. It affects macOS Sequoia prior to version 15.3, macOS Sonoma prior to 14.7.3, and macOS Ventura prior to 13.7.3. The vulnerability, associated with CWE-276, carries a CVSS v3.1 base score of 7.1 (AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N).
A local attacker with low privileges can exploit this vulnerability with low attack complexity and without requiring user interaction. Successful exploitation enables the attacker to elevate their privileges, resulting in high impacts to confidentiality and integrity but no availability impact.
Apple's security advisories confirm the issue is fixed in macOS Sequoia 15.3, macOS Sonoma 14.7.3, and macOS Ventura 13.7.3. Mitigation involves updating affected systems to these patched versions, with further details available in the referenced Apple support pages and Full Disclosure mailing list posts.
OWASP Top 10 for Web (2025)
EU & UK References
- 🇪🇺 ENISA EUVD: EUVD-2025-3669
Vulnerability Data
A permissions issue was addressed with improved validation. This issue is fixed in macOS Sequoia 15.3, macOS Sonoma 14.7.3, macOS Ventura 13.7.3. A local attacker may be able to elevate their privileges.
- CWE(s)
Related Threats
MITRE ATT&CK Enterprise Techniques
CVEs Like This One
Affected Assets
Mitigating Controls
Control response
—
—
- 7 hardening rules · 2 OS baselines
—
Mitigating Controls (NIST 800-53 r5) AI
Enforces approved authorizations on files and resources so overly permissive defaults cannot be exploited.
Requires least-privilege defaults so that installed files are not world-writable by default.
Requires documented, restrictive configuration settings that cover file and directory permissions.
Enforces access restrictions on changes, including permission settings applied during installation or configuration.
Mitigating Controls (NIST CSF 2.0) AI
Derived directly from the weakness types (CWEs) cited in the NVD entry via our AI-authored CWE→CSF cross-walk (authority under review) — links open the control.
Hardened baselines and configuration management explicitly require correct default file permissions.
Defining and enforcing least-privilege access permissions directly prevents overly permissive defaults at install time.
Lifecycle management can encompass permission settings, yet the control is too broad to specifically mitigate incorrect defaults.
Secure SDLC practices include establishing secure defaults, but address only the development-phase portion of the weakness.
Mitigating Controls (ISO/IEC 27001:2022 Annex A) AI
Derived directly from the weakness types (CWEs) cited in the NVD entry via our AI-authored CWE→ISO cross-walk (authority under review) — links open the control.
Standard templates that restrict access to utility programs and host parameter settings prevent the assignment of overly permissive default permissions on critical resources.
Hardening callouts derived
Configuration rules from DISA STIG baselines that bear on weaknesses of the type cited by this CVE. Each rule is shown with the relationship its mapping actually records, against the CWE it was authored against. Derived via CVE→CWE over `controls_xwalks` (authoritative rows only; rows rated `none` are excluded).
Windows Server 2016 (2 rules)
- V-224833 Permissions for program file directories must conform to minimum requirements. prevents CWE-276
- V-224834 Permissions for the Windows installation directory must conform to minimum requirements. prevents CWE-276
Windows Server 2019 (2 rules)
- V-205735 Windows Server 2019 permissions for program file directories must conform to minimum requirements. prevents CWE-276
- V-205736 Windows Server 2019 permissions for the Windows installation directory must conform to minimum requirements. prevents CWE-276