Description
This issue was addressed with improved handling 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 access protected user data.
Published: 2025-11-04
Score: 3.3 Low
EPSS: < 1% Very Low
KEV: No
Impact: Access Protected User Data
Action: Apply Update
AI Analysis

Impact

This vulnerability results from improper handling of symbolic links within macOS, allowing a local application to read or otherwise access data that is otherwise protected. The weakness can be exploited by any app that the user runs, and is categorized as a CWE-59 path traversal issue. While the CVSS base score of 3.3 reflects a low severity, the potential for privacy compromise makes it a concern for data‑sensitive environments.

Affected Systems

Apple macOS is affected, specifically versions released before macOS Sequoia 15.7.2, macOS Sonoma 14.8.2, or macOS Tahoe 26.1. Users running earlier releases of these operating systems have the vulnerability in effect.

Risk and Exploitability

The EPSS value of less than 1% indicates a very low likelihood of exploitation in the wild, and the issue is not listed in CISA’s KEV catalog. The attack vector is inferred to be local, requiring a user to execute a malicious application that can manipulate symbolic links. The low CVSS score reflects the limited impact, but the confidentiality risk remains for user data that could be exposed by the affected app.

Generated by OpenCVE AI on April 22, 2026 at 21:42 UTC.

Remediation

No vendor fix or workaround currently provided.

OpenCVE Recommended Actions

  • Install the latest macOS update that includes the symlink fix (macOS Sequoia 15.7.2, macOS Sonoma 14.8.2, or macOS Tahoe 26.1).
  • For environments unable to update immediately, limit the affected application’s file system access or run it within a sandbox to prevent it from following symbolic links into protected areas.
  • Monitor system logs for unexpected symbolic‑link manipulations and disable or quarantine any applications that exhibit suspicious file‑access patterns until a patch is applied.

Generated by OpenCVE AI on April 22, 2026 at 21:42 UTC.

Tracking

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Advisories

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History

Wed, 22 Apr 2026 22:00:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
Title Improper Symlink Handling in macOS Allows App Access to Protected User Data

Thu, 02 Apr 2026 20:30:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
Description This issue was addressed with improved handling of symlinks. This issue is fixed in macOS Sequoia 15.7.2, macOS Tahoe 26.1, macOS Sonoma 14.8.2. An app may be able to access protected user data. This issue was addressed with improved handling 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 access protected user data.

Wed, 17 Dec 2025 21:00:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
Description This issue was addressed with improved handling of symlinks. This issue is fixed in macOS Sonoma 14.8.2, macOS Sequoia 15.7.2. An app may be able to access protected user data. This issue was addressed with improved handling of symlinks. This issue is fixed in macOS Sequoia 15.7.2, macOS Tahoe 26.1, macOS Sonoma 14.8.2. An app may be able to access protected user data.
References

Wed, 05 Nov 2025 14:45:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
CPEs cpe:2.3:o:apple:macos:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*

Tue, 04 Nov 2025 19:15:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
Weaknesses CWE-59
Metrics cvssV3_1

{'score': 3.3, 'vector': 'CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:N/A:N'}

ssvc

{'options': {'Automatable': 'no', 'Exploitation': 'none', 'Technical Impact': 'partial'}, 'version': '2.0.3'}

Tue, 04 Nov 2025 16:45:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
First Time appeared Apple
Apple macos
Apple macos Sequoia
Apple macos Sonoma
Vendors & Products Apple
Apple macos
Apple macos Sequoia
Apple macos Sonoma

Tue, 04 Nov 2025 01:45:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
Description This issue was addressed with improved handling of symlinks. This issue is fixed in macOS Sonoma 14.8.2, macOS Sequoia 15.7.2. An app may be able to access protected user data.
References

Subscriptions

Apple Macos Macos Sequoia Macos Sonoma
cve-icon MITRE

Status: PUBLISHED

Assigner: apple

Published:

Updated: 2026-04-02T18:13:44.198Z

Reserved: 2025-04-16T15:24:37.118Z

Link: CVE-2025-43395

cve-icon Vulnrichment

Updated: 2025-11-04T19:07:40.696Z

cve-icon NVD

Status : Modified

Published: 2025-11-04T02:15:46.277

Modified: 2026-04-02T19:20:39.133

Link: CVE-2025-43395

cve-icon Redhat

No data.

cve-icon OpenCVE Enrichment

Updated: 2026-04-22T21:45:06Z

Weaknesses