Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
Apple fixed a macOS flaw where a malicious app could create symlinks to protected disk areas. An unpatched Mac could allow an app to cross boundaries that should protect sensitive system or user data. Apple lists fixes in Sequoia 15.4, Sonoma 14.7.5, and Ventura 13.7.5.
Executive priority
Prioritize remediation for managed macOS fleets because Apple rates the issue as fixed in current security updates and the CVSS score is critical. Urgency is high, but the sources do not substantiate known exploitation.
Technical view
CVE-2025-30457 is described as a symlink validation issue, mapped to CWE-59. The CVE data assigns CVSS 3.1 score 9.8 with high confidentiality, integrity, and availability impact. Source detail is limited: Apple states improved validation of symlinks and does not name a specific macOS component.
Likely exposure
Organizations with macOS endpoints older than Sequoia 15.4, Sonoma 14.7.5, or Ventura 13.7.5 should treat those systems as potentially exposed, especially where users can install or run untrusted apps.
Exploitation context
The provided sources do not show CISA KEV listing or confirmed active exploitation. The described attacker prerequisite is a malicious app, but the CVSS vector in the bundle indicates network, no privileges, and no user interaction, creating unresolved source ambiguity.
Researcher notes
Evidence is thin beyond Apple and CVE records. The main uncertainty is the mismatch between the malicious-app wording and the network-based CVSS vector. Avoid assuming remote exploitation mechanics without additional vendor detail.
Mitigation direction
- Update macOS Sequoia systems to 15.4 or later.
- Update macOS Sonoma systems to 14.7.5 or later.
- Update macOS Ventura systems to 13.7.5 or later.
- Restrict untrusted app execution on unpatched Macs.
- Monitor Apple guidance for any additional advisories or clarifications.
Validation and detection
- Inventory macOS versions across managed endpoints.
- Confirm patched target versions are installed successfully.
- Flag unsupported or unmanaged Macs for remediation review.
- Review Apple advisory pages for the fixed release applicable to each system.
- Check endpoint controls for unauthorized or suspicious app execution.
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-2025-30457 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
- Critical
- CVSS
- 9.8 (3.1)
- Known Exploited
- No
- Published
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
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:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H3.95.9CISA-ADPVulnerability scoring details
Base CVSS 3.1 score
9.8CriticalVector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
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.