CVE-2025-43253
Published: 30 July 2025
Summary
CVE-2025-43253 is a critical-severity Improper Input Validation (CWE-20) vulnerability in Apple Macos. Its CVSS base score is 9.8 (Critical).
Operationally, exploitation aligns with the MITRE ATT&CK technique Exploitation for Client Execution (T1203); ranked in the top 32.0% of CVEs by exploit likelihood; it is not currently listed in the CISA KEV catalog.
The strongest mitigations our analysis identified are NIST 800-53 SI-10 (Information Input Validation) and SI-2 (Flaw Remediation).
Deeper analysis
CVE-2025-43253 is an improper input validation vulnerability (CWE-20) affecting Apple's macOS operating system. It was addressed through enhanced input validation checks and is fixed in macOS Sequoia 15.6 and macOS Sonoma 14.7.7, meaning prior versions are vulnerable. The flaw enables a malicious app to launch arbitrary binaries on a trusted device, earning a CVSS v3.1 base score of 9.8 (AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H), indicating critical severity due to its potential for high-impact exploitation.
The vulnerability can be exploited by any remote attacker with network access who delivers a malicious app to the target device, requiring no privileges, user interaction, or special conditions. Successful exploitation allows the attacker to execute arbitrary binaries, potentially leading to full system compromise through unauthorized code execution, data theft, modification of system files, or denial of service.
Apple's security advisories detail the patch as improved input validation to prevent the arbitrary binary launch. Security practitioners should prioritize updating affected macOS installations to Sequoia 15.6 or Sonoma 14.7.7, with further details available in the referenced support pages (https://support.apple.com/en-us/124149, https://support.apple.com/en-us/124150) and Full Disclosure archives (http://seclists.org/fulldisclosure/2025/Jul/32, http://seclists.org/fulldisclosure/2025/Jul/33).
EU & UK References
- 🇪🇺 ENISA EUVD: EUVD-2025-23116
Vulnerability details
This issue was addressed with improved input validation. This issue is fixed in macOS Sequoia 15.6, macOS Sonoma 14.7.7. A malicious app may be able to launch arbitrary binaries on a trusted device.
- CWE(s)
Related Threats
MITRE ATT&CK Enterprise TechniquesAI
Why these techniques?
Improper input validation enables remote unauthenticated arbitrary binary execution on macOS client, directly mapping to client exploitation for code execution and Unix shell invocation.
CVEs Like This One
Affected Assets
Mitigating Controls
Mitigating Controls (NIST 800-53 r5) AI
Directly implements input validation mechanisms to address the improper input validation flaw enabling malicious apps to launch arbitrary binaries.
Requires timely identification, reporting, and remediation of flaws like CVE-2025-43253 via patching to fixed macOS versions.
Deploys malicious code protection at entry points to detect and eradicate arbitrary binaries launched by exploited malicious apps.