CVE-2025-24088 is a vulnerability identified in Apple macOS that allows an application to override settings enforced by Mobile Device Management (MDM) profiles. MDM is widely used by organizations to centrally manage and enforce security and configuration policies on Apple devices. This vulnerability arises from insufficient enforcement logic in the macOS profile management system, enabling an unprivileged app to bypass restrictions set by MDM profiles. The flaw is categorized under CWE-284 (Improper Access Control), indicating that the system fails to properly restrict access to critical configuration settings. Exploitation requires no privileges or user interaction and can be performed remotely over the network, as indicated by the CVSS vector (AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N). The impact is primarily on confidentiality, as unauthorized apps can access or modify sensitive settings that should be locked down by MDM, potentially exposing organizational secrets or weakening security postures. The vulnerability does not affect integrity or availability directly but undermines the trust model of managed devices. Apple addressed this issue in macOS Tahoe 26 by adding additional logic to enforce MDM settings correctly. No known exploits have been reported in the wild as of the publication date. Organizations using macOS devices managed via MDM should upgrade promptly to the fixed version to mitigate this risk.

The primary impact of CVE-2025-24088 is the potential bypass of MDM-enforced security and configuration policies on macOS devices. This can lead to unauthorized access to sensitive configuration data, exposure of confidential information, and weakening of security controls that organizations rely on to maintain device compliance. Attackers could deploy malicious applications that override restrictions, install unauthorized software, or disable security features without detection. This undermines the integrity of device management frameworks and increases the risk of further compromise or data leakage. Since the vulnerability requires no authentication or user interaction and can be exploited remotely, it poses a significant risk to organizations with large fleets of managed macOS devices, especially in sectors with strict compliance requirements such as finance, healthcare, and government. The lack of impact on integrity and availability limits the scope to confidentiality breaches, but the trust erosion in device management can have cascading effects on overall security posture.

Organizations should immediately plan to upgrade all affected macOS devices to macOS Tahoe 26 or later, where the vulnerability is patched. Until patching is complete, administrators should monitor device configurations for unauthorized changes and restrict app installation privileges to trusted sources only. Implementing application whitelisting and endpoint detection solutions can help identify attempts to override MDM settings. Additionally, organizations should review and tighten MDM policies to minimize the attack surface, such as disabling unnecessary profile modifications and enforcing strict code signing requirements. Regular audits of device compliance and anomaly detection can help detect exploitation attempts. Educating users about the risks of installing untrusted applications and maintaining robust network segmentation can further reduce exposure. Finally, organizations should stay informed about updates from Apple and security advisories related to macOS device management.