CVE-2025-43220

{"dataType": "CVE_RECORD", "dataVersion": "5.2", "cveMetadata": {"cveId": "CVE-2025-43220", "assignerOrgId": "286789f9-fbc2-4510-9f9a-43facdede74c", "state": "PUBLISHED", "assignerShortName": "apple", "dateReserved": "2025-04-16T15:24:37.090Z", "datePublished": "2025-07-29T23:29:28.537Z", "dateUpdated": "2026-04-02T18:26:55.663Z"}, "containers": {"cna": {"problemTypes": [{"descriptions": [{"lang": "en", "description": "An app may be able to access protected user data"}]}], "affected": [{"vendor": "Apple", "product": "iPadOS", "versions": [{"version": "0", "status": "affected", "lessThan": "17.7.9", "versionType": "custom"}]}, {"vendor": "Apple", "product": "macOS", "versions": [{"version": "0", "status": "affected", "lessThan": "13.7.7", "versionType": "custom"}, {"version": "0", "status": "affected", "lessThan": "14.7.7", "versionType": "custom"}, {"version": "0", "status": "affected", "lessThan": "15.6", "versionType": "custom"}]}], "descriptions": [{"lang": "en", "value": "This issue was addressed with improved validation of symlinks. This issue is fixed in iPadOS 17.7.9, macOS Sequoia 15.6, macOS Sonoma 14.7.7, macOS Ventura 13.7.7. An app may be able to access protected user data."}], "references": [{"url": "https://support.apple.com/en-us/124148"}, {"url": "https://support.apple.com/en-us/124149"}, {"url": "https://support.apple.com/en-us/124150"}, {"url": "https://support.apple.com/en-us/124151"}], "providerMetadata": {"orgId": "286789f9-fbc2-4510-9f9a-43facdede74c", "shortName": "apple", "dateUpdated": "2026-04-02T18:26:55.663Z"}}, "adp": [{"problemTypes": [{"descriptions": [{"type": "CWE", "cweId": "CWE-59", "lang": "en", "description": "CWE-59 Improper Link Resolution Before File Access ('Link Following')"}]}], "metrics": [{"cvssV3_1": {"scope": "UNCHANGED", "version": "3.1", "baseScore": 9.8, "attackVector": "NETWORK", "baseSeverity": "CRITICAL", "vectorString": "CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H", "integrityImpact": "HIGH", "userInteraction": "NONE", "attackComplexity": "LOW", "availabilityImpact": "HIGH", "privilegesRequired": "NONE", "confidentialityImpact": "HIGH"}}, {"other": {"type": "ssvc", "content": {"timestamp": "2025-07-30T13:28:10.388735Z", "id": "CVE-2025-43220", "options": [{"Exploitation": "none"}, {"Automatable": "yes"}, {"Technical Impact": "total"}], "role": "CISA Coordinator", "version": "2.0.3"}}}], "title": "CISA ADP Vulnrichment", "providerMetadata": {"orgId": "134c704f-9b21-4f2e-91b3-4a467353bcc0", "shortName": "CISA-ADP", "dateUpdated": "2025-07-31T17:56:39.669Z"}}, {"title": "CVE Program Container", "references": [{"url": "http://seclists.org/fulldisclosure/2025/Jul/34"}, {"url": "http://seclists.org/fulldisclosure/2025/Jul/33"}, {"url": "http://seclists.org/fulldisclosure/2025/Jul/32"}, {"url": "http://seclists.org/fulldisclosure/2025/Jul/31"}], "providerMetadata": {"orgId": "af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108", "shortName": "CVE", "dateUpdated": "2025-11-03T20:01:03.732Z"}}]}}

{"dataType": "CVE_RECORD", "containers": {"adp": [{"title": "CISA ADP Vulnrichment", "metrics": [{"cvssV3_1": {"scope": "UNCHANGED", "version": "3.1", "baseScore": 9.8, "attackVector": "NETWORK", "baseSeverity": "CRITICAL", "vectorString": "CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H", "integrityImpact": "HIGH", "userInteraction": "NONE", "attackComplexity": "LOW", "availabilityImpact": "HIGH", "privilegesRequired": "NONE", "confidentialityImpact": "HIGH"}}, {"other": {"type": "ssvc", "content": {"id": "CVE-2025-43220", "role": "CISA Coordinator", "options": [{"Exploitation": "none"}, {"Automatable": "yes"}, {"Technical Impact": "total"}], "version": "2.0.3", "timestamp": "2025-07-30T13:28:10.388735Z"}}}], "problemTypes": [{"descriptions": [{"lang": "en", "type": "CWE", "cweId": "CWE-59", "description": "CWE-59 Improper Link Resolution Before File Access ('Link Following')"}]}], "providerMetadata": {"orgId": "134c704f-9b21-4f2e-91b3-4a467353bcc0", "shortName": "CISA-ADP", "dateUpdated": "2025-07-30T13:28:12.192Z"}}], "cna": {"affected": [{"vendor": "Apple", "product": "iPadOS", "versions": [{"status": "affected", "version": "unspecified", "lessThan": "17.7", "versionType": "custom"}]}, {"vendor": "Apple", "product": "macOS", "versions": [{"status": "affected", "version": "unspecified", "lessThan": "15.6", "versionType": "custom"}]}, {"vendor": "Apple", "product": "macOS", "versions": [{"status": "affected", "version": "unspecified", "lessThan": "14.7", "versionType": "custom"}]}, {"vendor": "Apple", "product": "macOS", "versions": [{"status": "affected", "version": "unspecified", "lessThan": "13.7", "versionType": "custom"}]}], "references": [{"url": "https://support.apple.com/en-us/124148"}, {"url": "https://support.apple.com/en-us/124149"}, {"url": "https://support.apple.com/en-us/124150"}, {"url": "https://support.apple.com/en-us/124151"}], "descriptions": [{"lang": "en", "value": "This issue was addressed with improved validation of symlinks. This issue is fixed in iPadOS 17.7.9, macOS Sequoia 15.6, macOS Sonoma 14.7.7, macOS Ventura 13.7.7. An app may be able to access protected user data."}], "problemTypes": [{"descriptions": [{"lang": "en", "description": "An app may be able to access protected user data"}]}], "providerMetadata": {"orgId": "286789f9-fbc2-4510-9f9a-43facdede74c", "shortName": "apple", "dateUpdated": "2025-07-29T23:36:06.551Z"}}}, "cveMetadata": {"cveId": "CVE-2025-43220", "state": "PUBLISHED", "dateUpdated": "2025-07-31T17:56:39.669Z", "dateReserved": "2025-04-16T15:24:37.090Z", "assignerOrgId": "286789f9-fbc2-4510-9f9a-43facdede74c", "datePublished": "2025-07-29T23:29:28.537Z", "assignerShortName": "apple"}, "dataVersion": "5.1"}

{"affected": [{"affectedData": [{"product": "iPadOS", "vendor": "Apple", "versions": [{"lessThan": "17.7.9", "status": "affected", "version": "0", "versionType": "custom"}]}, {"product": "macOS", "vendor": "Apple", "versions": [{"lessThan": "13.7.7", "status": "affected", "version": "0", "versionType": "custom"}, {"lessThan": "14.7.7", "status": "affected", "version": "0", "versionType": "custom"}, {"lessThan": "15.6", "status": "affected", "version": "0", "versionType": "custom"}]}], "source": "product-security@apple.com"}], "configurations": [{"nodes": [{"cpeMatch": [{"criteria": "cpe:2.3:o:apple:ipados:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*", "matchCriteriaId": "E2A4A63D-08FE-4021-8059-FB290A7F398A", "versionEndExcluding": "17.7.9", "vulnerable": true}, {"criteria": "cpe:2.3:o:apple:macos:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*", "matchCriteriaId": "32DF9916-8A45-426F-BA36-FC73FD668828", "versionEndExcluding": "13.7.7", "vulnerable": true}, {"criteria": "cpe:2.3:o:apple:macos:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*", "matchCriteriaId": "4F043DE0-C517-463D-9693-53789EB6132D", "versionEndExcluding": "14.7.7", "versionStartIncluding": "14.0", "vulnerable": true}, {"criteria": "cpe:2.3:o:apple:macos:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*", "matchCriteriaId": "4CF17CE2-DB4B-48D1-81AF-67EF1EC7BB45", "versionEndExcluding": "15.6", "versionStartIncluding": "15.0", "vulnerable": true}], "negate": false, "operator": "OR"}]}], "cveTags": [], "descriptions": [{"lang": "en", "value": "This issue was addressed with improved validation of symlinks. This issue is fixed in iPadOS 17.7.9, macOS Sequoia 15.6, macOS Sonoma 14.7.7, macOS Ventura 13.7.7. An app may be able to access protected user data."}, {"lang": "es", "value": "Este problema se solucion\u00f3 mejorando la validaci\u00f3n de enlaces simb\u00f3licos. Este problema est\u00e1 corregido en iPadOS 17.7.9, macOS Sequoia 15.6, macOS Sonoma 14.7.7 y macOS Ventura 13.7.7. Una aplicaci\u00f3n podr\u00eda acceder a datos protegidos del usuario."}], "id": "CVE-2025-43220", "lastModified": "2026-06-17T09:23:31.407", "metrics": {"cvssMetricV31": [{"cvssData": {"attackComplexity": "LOW", "attackVector": "NETWORK", "availabilityImpact": "HIGH", "baseScore": 9.8, "baseSeverity": "CRITICAL", "confidentialityImpact": "HIGH", "integrityImpact": "HIGH", "privilegesRequired": "NONE", "scope": "UNCHANGED", "userInteraction": "NONE", "vectorString": "CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H", "version": "3.1"}, "exploitabilityScore": 3.9, "impactScore": 5.9, "source": "134c704f-9b21-4f2e-91b3-4a467353bcc0", "type": "Secondary"}], "ssvcV203": [{"source": "134c704f-9b21-4f2e-91b3-4a467353bcc0", "ssvcData": {"id": "CVE-2025-43220", "options": [{"exploitation": "none"}, {"automatable": "yes"}, {"technicalImpact": "total"}], "role": "CISA Coordinator", "timestamp": "2025-07-30T13:28:10.388735Z", "version": "2.0.3"}}]}, "published": "2025-07-30T00:15:34.053", "references": [{"source": "product-security@apple.com", "tags": ["Release Notes", "Vendor Advisory"], "url": "https://support.apple.com/en-us/124148"}, {"source": "product-security@apple.com", "tags": ["Release Notes", "Vendor Advisory"], "url": "https://support.apple.com/en-us/124149"}, {"source": "product-security@apple.com", "tags": ["Release Notes", "Vendor Advisory"], "url": "https://support.apple.com/en-us/124150"}, {"source": "product-security@apple.com", "tags": ["Release Notes", "Vendor Advisory"], "url": "https://support.apple.com/en-us/124151"}, {"source": "af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108", "url": "http://seclists.org/fulldisclosure/2025/Jul/31"}, {"source": "af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108", "url": "http://seclists.org/fulldisclosure/2025/Jul/32"}, {"source": "af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108", "url": "http://seclists.org/fulldisclosure/2025/Jul/33"}, {"source": "af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108", "url": "http://seclists.org/fulldisclosure/2025/Jul/34"}], "sourceIdentifier": "product-security@apple.com", "vulnStatus": "Modified", "weaknesses": [{"description": [{"lang": "en", "value": "CWE-59"}], "source": "134c704f-9b21-4f2e-91b3-4a467353bcc0", "type": "Secondary"}]}

{}

{"analysis": {"en": {"generated_at": "2026-04-28T18:47:12.865725+00:00", "value": {"mitigation_remediation": ["Upgrade to iPadOS 17.7.9 or later, macOS Sequoia 15.6 or later, macOS Sonoma 14.7.7 or later, or macOS Ventura 13.7.7 or later, which contain the confirmed symlink validation fix.", "Restrict installation of applications that can create or modify symbolic links to trusted sources only, and verify app permissions to avoid unnecessary symlink manipulation.", "Apply system security policies that limit symbolic link traversal to privileged users, and regularly audit filesystem for unexpected symlink chains."], "summary": {"action": "Immediate Patch", "impact": "Unauthorized Access to Protected Data"}, "threat_synthesis": {"affected_systems": "Affected devices run iPadOS 17.7.9 or earlier, macOS Sequoia 15.6 or earlier, macOS Sonoma 14.7.7 or earlier, and macOS Ventura 13.7.7 or earlier. Current releases of these operating systems incorporate defenses that mitigate the symlink validation issue.", "description_and_impact": "Apple\u2019s iPadOS and macOS systems contain a path traversal flaw tied to symlink validation. An application that can create or manipulate symbolic links may follow links that escape expected boundaries, allowing the app to read or write files it should not have access to. The primary impact is unauthorized access to protected user data, which could lead to confidentiality breaches or further exploitation. The weakness is identified as CWE\u201159.", "risk_and_exploitability": "The CVSS score of 9.8 marks this vulnerability as Critical, and the EPSS score of < 1% suggests a low probability of exploitation in the wild. The flaw is not currently listed in the CISA KEV catalog. The attack path is likely local: a malicious or compromised app on the device would need to leverage the symlink handling flaw to reach protected data. Given the OS-level nature of the flaw, successful exploitation would grant the attacker user\u2011level access to sensitive files and potentially compromise system integrity or availability."}}}}, "created": "2025-07-30T10:13:58.226848+00:00", "title": "Symlink Validation Flaw Enables Unauthorized Access to Protected User Data", "updated": "2026-04-28T19:00:20.850522+00:00", "vendors": ["apple", "apple$PRODUCT$ipados", "apple$PRODUCT$macos", "apple$PRODUCT$macos_sequoia", "apple$PRODUCT$macos_sonoma", "apple$PRODUCT$macos_ventura"]}