Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
A locally running app may abuse weak symbolic-link validation to reach protected user data on a Mac. Apple corrected the issue in specified Sequoia, Sonoma, and Ventura updates. The flaw requires local access and some privileges, limiting remote attack potential, but it could affect sensitive information or files.
Executive priority
Treat this as a routine but time-sensitive endpoint patching issue. Prioritize Macs handling sensitive user or business data and devices permitting untrusted applications. Emergency incident response is not supported by the supplied exploitation evidence.
Technical view
CVE-2025-24278 is a CWE-59 symlink-validation weakness in macOS. Its CVSS 3.1 score is 5.5, with local access, low privileges, low complexity, and no user interaction required. Apple states improved symlink validation resolves the issue.
Likely exposure
Exposure is most likely on Macs that have not received macOS Sequoia 15.4, Sonoma 14.7.5, Ventura 13.7.5, or a later applicable update. Exploitation requires a locally running, low-privileged app; the sources do not identify a remotely reachable path.
Exploitation context
The supplied record is not in CISA KEV, and the sources provide no evidence of active exploitation or a public exploit. The CVSS vector indicates a local, low-complexity attack requiring low privileges but no additional user interaction.
Researcher notes
The weakness is classified as CWE-59 and concerns symlink validation. The stated impact is access to protected user data, while the supplied CVSS vector records high integrity impact and no confidentiality impact. Public details are insufficient to resolve that apparent discrepancy or identify the affected component, exploitation primitive, or indicators.
Mitigation direction
- Update Sequoia systems to macOS 15.4 or a later applicable release.
- Update Sonoma systems to macOS 14.7.5 or a later applicable release.
- Update Ventura systems to macOS 13.7.5 or a later applicable release.
- Check Apple security guidance for any model-specific update requirements.
Validation and detection
- Inventory macOS versions across managed and unmanaged endpoints.
- Confirm each supported Mac has received the applicable fixed release or later update.
- Verify update-management reports against endpoint-reported operating-system versions.
- Review endpoint telemetry for suspicious local apps accessing protected user locations.
- Document that the public sources provide no vulnerability-specific indicators of compromise.
Public sources used
Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.
Conservative CVE-to-ATT&CK context
These mappings and lookup hints may be relevant to the vulnerability behavior, CWE, affected product, or exposure path. Glexia-inferred context is not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, CWE, or CVE Program mapping.
ATT&CK lookup starting points
Use these exact CWE pages and searches to review the Glexia ATT&CK library from this CVE's weakness and description context.
CWE-59: Exact CWE lookup
Use the exact CWE identifier as the starting point before reviewing related ATT&CK behavior. Open the exact CWE lookup page first, then review the ATT&CK searches from that MITRE weakness context. This is a Glexia lookup hint, not an official ATT&CK mapping.
Open ATT&CK lookupCVE-2025-24278 mapping review
Open the CVE-to-ATT&CK bridge for reviewed, inferred, or future official mappings tied to this CVE.
Open ATT&CK lookup- Severity
- Medium
- CVSS
- 5.5 (3.1)
- Known Exploited
- No
- Published
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:N
CNA and ADP enrichment extracted from CVE v5
These fields come from the CVE record and ADP containers, not from Glexia's Take. They preserve time-varying source decisions such as CISA SSVC, KEV status, CVSS metrics, and provider references.
SSVC decision data
CVSS vector scores
1 official scoreWe collect every scored CVSS vector available in the official CNA and ADP containers. When more than one version is present, the table keeps the source vectors side by side instead of collapsing them into the highest score.
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:N1.83.6CISA-ADPVulnerability scoring details
Base CVSS 3.1 score
5.5MediumVector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:N
Vulnerability timeline
Timeline events are normalized from CVE metadata, CNA source timelines, ADP timelines, and KEV metadata when present.
- CVE reservedCVE Program
The CVE ID was reserved by the assigning CNA.
- CVE publishedCVE Program
The CVE record was published.
- CVE updatedCVE Program
The CVE record metadata indicates this as the latest update time.
ADP provider summaries
Source materials
- CVE List V5 sourceCVE List V5
- https://support.apple.com/en-us/122373CVE reference, apple
- https://support.apple.com/en-us/122374CVE reference, apple
- https://support.apple.com/en-us/122375CVE reference, apple
Products and packages named in the record
CWE details
CWE links open Glexia weakness intelligence pages with official CWE context, developer remediation guidance, and related CVE mappings.
Improper Link Resolution Before File Access ('Link Following')
Improper Link Resolution Before File Access ('Link Following') represents a recurring weakness pattern that can create exploitable paths when design, validation, or implementation controls are missing.