macOS
CVE-2025-43521
MEDIUM
Severity by source
AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N
Primary rating from NVD · only source for this CVE.
CVSS VectorNVD
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N
Lifecycle Timeline
2DescriptionCVE.org
A downgrade issue affecting Intel-based Mac computers was addressed with additional code-signing restrictions. This issue is fixed in macOS Sequoia 15.7.3, macOS Tahoe 26.2. An app may be able to access sensitive user data.
AnalysisAI
Local privilege escalation on Intel-based macOS systems allows unsigned or weakly-signed applications to access sensitive user data by downgrading code-signing protections through cryptographic validation bypass. The vulnerability affects macOS Sequoia prior to 15.7.3 and macOS Tahoe prior to 26.2, requires user interaction to execute a malicious app, and has an extremely low exploitation probability (EPSS 0.01%) despite moderate CVSS severity. No active exploitation or public exploit code has been identified.
Technical ContextAI
The vulnerability stems from improper cryptographic signature validation (CWE-347: Improper Verification of Cryptographic Signature) in macOS code-signing enforcement mechanisms, specifically affecting Intel-based processors. Code-signing is a fundamental macOS security control that verifies application integrity and establishes trust. The 'downgrade issue' terminology suggests an attacker could bypass stricter signature requirements by reverting to weaker or legacy signing validation paths, potentially exploiting JWT (JSON Web Token) attack vectors as indicated by tagging. The fix introduces additional code-signing restrictions to close this downgrade path, preventing applications from negotiating weaker cryptographic guarantees.
RemediationAI
Vendor-released patches are available: upgrade Intel-based macOS Sequoia systems to version 15.7.3 or later, and upgrade macOS Tahoe systems to version 26.2 or later. Both updates include additional code-signing restrictions that prevent downgrade attacks against cryptographic signature validation. Apple Silicon-based Mac users are not affected and require no action. Users should enable automatic macOS updates or manually install the latest security updates through System Settings > General > Software Update. Verification of successful patching can be confirmed by checking System Information for the patched macOS version number.
An unauthenticated remote code execution vulnerability exists in Remote for Mac, a macOS remote control utility develope
A use-after-free issue was addressed with improved memory management. Rated high severity (CVSS 8.8), this vulnerability
Apple's kernel across all platforms (iOS, macOS, watchOS, visionOS, tvOS) contains a memory corruption vulnerability (CV
Remote code execution in OpenSSH's sshd server (regression of CVE-2006-5051) allows unauthenticated remote attackers to
The SSH transport protocol with certain OpenSSH extensions, found in OpenSSH before 9.6 and other products, allows remot
The issue was addressed with improved checks. Rated high severity (CVSS 7.0). Actively exploited in the wild (cisa kev)
A logic issue was addressed with improved restrictions. Rated high severity (CVSS 7.8), this vulnerability is no authent
In Sudo before 1.9.12p2, the sudoedit (aka -e) feature mishandles extra arguments passed in the user-provided environmen
A race condition was addressed with additional validation. Rated high severity (CVSS 7.0), this vulnerability is no auth
This issue was addressed with improved checks. Rated critical severity (CVSS 10.0), this vulnerability is remotely explo
When doing HTTP(S) transfers, libcurl might erroneously use the read callback (`CURLOPT_READFUNCTION`) to ask for data t
When curl < 7.84.0 saves cookies, alt-svc and hsts data to local files, it makes the operation atomic by finalizing the
Same technique Information Disclosure
View allShare
External POC / Exploit Code
Leaving vuln.today