CVE-2025-11921 is a critical security vulnerability identified in Bjango's iStats application version 7.10.4. The root cause is an insecure XPC (interprocess communication) service that has incorrect permission assignments (CWE-732), allowing local, unprivileged users to exploit command injection flaws (CWE-77) to escalate privileges to root. XPC services are macOS-specific mechanisms for communication between processes, often running with elevated privileges. In this case, the iStats XPC service improperly exposes functionality that can be manipulated by a local attacker to execute arbitrary commands with root privileges. The vulnerability requires only local access and no user interaction or authentication, making it straightforward for an attacker who has gained limited access to the system to fully compromise it. The CVSS 4.0 vector (AV:L/AC:L/AT:N/PR:L/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:H/SI:H/SA:H) indicates local attack vector, low complexity, no authentication, no user interaction, and high impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability, with scope and security requirements also high. Although no public exploits are currently known, the vulnerability's nature and severity make it a prime target for attackers seeking privilege escalation on macOS systems running iStats. The lack of available patches at the time of disclosure increases the urgency for mitigation. This vulnerability is particularly concerning for environments where iStats is installed on critical endpoints, as it can lead to full system compromise, data theft, or disruption of services.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2025-11921 is significant due to the potential for local attackers or malicious insiders to gain root privileges on affected macOS devices running iStats 7.10.4. This can lead to complete system compromise, unauthorized access to sensitive data, disruption of business operations, and potential lateral movement within networks. Industries with high macOS usage such as finance, government, technology, and creative sectors are especially vulnerable. The vulnerability undermines confidentiality, integrity, and availability of systems, potentially enabling attackers to install persistent malware, exfiltrate data, or disable security controls. Given the criticality and ease of exploitation, organizations face increased risk of insider threats and targeted attacks. The absence of known exploits in the wild currently provides a window for proactive defense, but the risk of rapid exploitation post-disclosure remains high. Failure to address this vulnerability promptly could result in regulatory penalties under GDPR if personal data is compromised.

1. Immediate mitigation should focus on restricting local user access to systems running iStats 7.10.4, limiting the number of users with local accounts and enforcing least privilege principles. 2. Monitor and audit XPC service permissions and configurations to detect and prevent unauthorized access or modifications. 3. Employ application whitelisting and endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions to identify anomalous behavior indicative of command injection or privilege escalation attempts. 4. Until a patch is released, consider disabling or uninstalling iStats on critical systems if feasible. 5. Implement strict logging and monitoring of local user activities and system calls related to XPC services. 6. Educate users and administrators about the risks of local privilege escalation vulnerabilities and enforce strong physical and logical access controls. 7. Once available, apply vendor patches immediately and verify their effectiveness through testing. 8. Conduct regular vulnerability assessments and penetration testing focused on local privilege escalation vectors. 9. Use macOS security features such as System Integrity Protection (SIP) and Endpoint Security Framework to limit the impact of exploitation. 10. Maintain an incident response plan that includes scenarios involving local privilege escalation and root compromise.