CVE-2025-24094 is a race condition vulnerability identified in Apple macOS operating systems, specifically addressed in versions Sequoia 15.3, Sonoma 14.7.3, and Ventura 13.7.3. The vulnerability arises from inadequate validation during concurrent operations, classified under CWE-362 (Race Condition). This flaw allows a local application to potentially access user-sensitive data without requiring privileges or user interaction, indicating a breach in confidentiality. The CVSS 3.1 base score is 4.0 (medium), with an attack vector of local (AV:L), low attack complexity (AC:L), no privileges required (PR:N), and no user interaction (UI:N). The scope remains unchanged (S:U), and the impact affects confidentiality only (C:L), with no impact on integrity or availability. The vulnerability does not currently have known exploits in the wild, suggesting limited active exploitation but a potential risk if weaponized. The root cause is a race condition where timing issues during resource access allow unauthorized data exposure. Apple mitigated this by adding additional validation checks to prevent concurrent access issues. This vulnerability primarily affects macOS users running versions prior to the patched releases. Since exploitation requires local access, attackers must already have some level of system access, limiting remote exploitation but posing a risk from malicious local apps or compromised accounts.

The primary impact of CVE-2025-24094 is unauthorized disclosure of user-sensitive data on affected macOS systems. This can lead to privacy breaches, exposure of confidential information, and potential escalation paths if sensitive data includes credentials or tokens. Since the vulnerability does not affect integrity or availability, it does not directly enable data modification or system disruption. However, the confidentiality breach can undermine trust in affected systems and may facilitate further attacks if sensitive data is leveraged. Organizations relying on macOS for critical operations, especially those handling sensitive personal or corporate data, face increased risk of data leakage. The local attack vector means that insider threats, malicious applications, or compromised user accounts could exploit this vulnerability. The absence of known exploits reduces immediate risk but does not eliminate the threat, as attackers may develop exploits over time. Failure to patch could result in data exposure incidents, regulatory compliance issues, and reputational damage.

To mitigate CVE-2025-24094, organizations and users should promptly update affected macOS systems to versions Sequoia 15.3, Sonoma 14.7.3, or Ventura 13.7.3 or later, where the vulnerability is fixed. Beyond patching, restrict local application installation privileges to trusted sources only, minimizing the risk of malicious apps exploiting the flaw. Employ endpoint protection solutions that monitor for suspicious local process behavior and unauthorized data access attempts. Implement strict user account controls and limit administrative privileges to reduce the chance of local exploitation. Regularly audit installed applications and running processes for anomalies. For high-security environments, consider application whitelisting and sandboxing to contain potential malicious apps. Maintain comprehensive logging and monitoring to detect unusual access patterns to sensitive data. Educate users about the risks of installing untrusted software and the importance of timely system updates. Finally, integrate vulnerability management processes to ensure swift identification and remediation of such vulnerabilities in the future.