CVE-2025-31195 is a sandbox escape vulnerability identified in Apple macOS, specifically addressed in the macOS Sequoia 15.4 update. The sandbox is a critical security mechanism designed to isolate applications and restrict their access to system resources, thereby limiting the potential damage from compromised or malicious apps. This vulnerability allows an app to break out of its sandbox, bypassing these restrictions and potentially executing unauthorized actions that compromise system integrity. The weakness is categorized under CWE-284 (Improper Access Control), indicating that the sandbox enforcement logic did not sufficiently prevent privilege escalation or unauthorized resource access. Exploitation requires local access (AV:L) and user interaction (UI:R), but no prior privileges (PR:N) are needed, making it accessible to unprivileged users who can trick a user into running the malicious app. The vulnerability impacts integrity (I:H) but not confidentiality or availability, and it affects the system scope (S:C), meaning the sandbox escape could affect other processes or system components. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 6.3, reflecting a medium severity level. Apple mitigated this issue by adding additional logic to the sandbox enforcement, strengthening the isolation of applications. No public exploits or active attacks have been reported, but the potential for misuse exists, especially in environments where untrusted applications are run. The vulnerability highlights the importance of sandbox security in macOS and the risks posed by insufficient access control mechanisms.

The primary impact of CVE-2025-31195 is on system integrity, as a successful sandbox escape allows an application to perform unauthorized actions beyond its intended permissions. This could lead to privilege escalation, unauthorized modification of system files or processes, and potentially facilitate further attacks such as persistence mechanisms or lateral movement within the system. Confidentiality and availability are not directly affected by this vulnerability, but the integrity compromise could indirectly lead to data manipulation or system instability. Organizations relying on macOS for critical operations, especially those running untrusted or third-party applications, face increased risk of compromise if this vulnerability is exploited. The requirement for local access and user interaction limits remote exploitation but does not eliminate risk in environments where users may be socially engineered or where malicious insiders exist. The vulnerability could be leveraged in targeted attacks against high-value macOS users, including developers, executives, or organizations with sensitive data. Failure to patch could expose organizations to advanced persistent threats (APTs) or malware that leverages sandbox escape to gain deeper system control.

To mitigate CVE-2025-31195, organizations should promptly update all affected macOS systems to version Sequoia 15.4 or later, where the vulnerability has been addressed. Beyond patching, organizations should enforce strict application control policies, such as using Apple’s Gatekeeper and notarization requirements to limit execution of untrusted applications. Employ endpoint protection solutions capable of detecting anomalous behavior indicative of sandbox escape attempts. Educate users about the risks of running unverified applications and the importance of avoiding social engineering attacks that could trigger exploitation. Implement least privilege principles to minimize the impact of any compromised application, including restricting user permissions and disabling unnecessary services. Regularly audit installed applications and monitor system logs for unusual activity related to sandbox violations. For environments with sensitive data, consider additional runtime protections such as macOS System Integrity Protection (SIP) and mandatory access controls. Finally, maintain an incident response plan that includes procedures for sandbox escape scenarios to quickly contain and remediate any exploitation.