CVE-2025-30453 is a privilege escalation vulnerability in Apple macOS identified under CWE-280 (Improper Access Control). The vulnerability arises due to insufficient permission checks in the operating system, allowing a malicious application running with limited privileges to escalate to root privileges without requiring user interaction. This flaw affects multiple macOS versions prior to the patched releases: macOS Sequoia 15.4, Ventura 13.7.6, and Sonoma 14.7.6. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 7.8, reflecting a high severity level, with an attack vector classified as local (AV:L), low attack complexity (AC:L), requiring low privileges (PR:L), and no user interaction (UI:N). The scope is unchanged (S:U), but the impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability is high (C:H/I:H/A:H). Although no known exploits are currently reported in the wild, the vulnerability poses a significant risk because a local attacker or malicious app could gain full control over the system, compromising all data and system functions. The issue was addressed by Apple through additional permission checks in the affected macOS versions. The vulnerability is particularly critical in environments where macOS devices are used for sensitive operations or where attackers may gain local access, such as through compromised user accounts or insider threats.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2025-30453 is substantial. Successful exploitation grants an attacker root-level access, enabling full control over the affected macOS system. This can lead to unauthorized access to sensitive data, installation of persistent malware, disruption of system availability, and potential lateral movement within networks. Organizations in finance, healthcare, government, and critical infrastructure sectors are especially at risk due to the sensitive nature of their data and operations. The vulnerability's local attack vector means that initial access is required, but once achieved, the attacker can fully compromise the system without further user interaction. This elevates the threat posed by insider attackers or malware that has already breached perimeter defenses. Given the widespread use of macOS in European enterprises and public sector agencies, unpatched systems could become prime targets for privilege escalation attacks, potentially leading to data breaches, operational disruption, and reputational damage.

1. Immediate deployment of Apple’s security updates for macOS Sequoia 15.4, Ventura 13.7.6, and Sonoma 14.7.6 to all affected systems is critical. 2. Implement strict application whitelisting and endpoint protection to prevent execution of untrusted or malicious applications that could exploit this vulnerability. 3. Enforce the principle of least privilege by limiting user accounts to the minimum necessary permissions and avoiding use of administrative accounts for routine tasks. 4. Monitor local system logs and security events for unusual privilege escalation attempts or suspicious application behavior. 5. Employ network segmentation to limit the spread of compromise from a single macOS device to other critical systems. 6. Conduct regular security awareness training to reduce the risk of insider threats and educate users about the dangers of running untrusted software. 7. Utilize endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions capable of detecting privilege escalation techniques specific to macOS environments. 8. Maintain an inventory of macOS devices and ensure timely patch management processes are in place to address future vulnerabilities promptly.