CVE-2025-43414VulnerabilityPublished 4 Nov 2025Updated 2 Apr 2026

CVE-2025-43414: Apple macOS · A shortcut may be able to access files that are normally inaccessible to the Shortcuts app

Affects Apple macOSSource CVE Database V5

Not known to be exploited · CVSS 6.2 Medium · fixed in 15.7.2 : update Apple macOS when convenient.

Data as of 26 Oct 2026, 06:26 UTC

CVSS 3.1 base score

6.2Medium

How severe the flaw is on the 0–10 CVSS scale.

EPSS: 0.2% chance of exploitation in 30 days – higher than 12% of CVEsExploit Prediction Scoring System: the likelihood attackers will use this flaw soon.
Patch: Available – fixed in 15.7.2

CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N

Attack Vector: Local
Attack Complexity: Low
Privileges Required: None
User Interaction: None
Scope: Unchanged
Confidentiality: High
Integrity: None
Availability: None

Bold values are the worst case: easiest to exploit or largest impact.

Attack Vector: Local: The vulnerable component is not bound to the network stack and the attacker’s path is via read/write/execute capabilities. Either: the attacker exploits the vulnerability by accessing the target system locally (e.g., keyboard, console), or remotely (e.g., SSH); or the attacker relies on User Interaction by another person to perform actions required to exploit the vulnerability (e.g., tricking a legitimate user into opening a malicious document).
Attack Complexity: Low: Specialized access conditions or extenuating circumstances do not exist. An attacker can expect repeatable success against the vulnerable component.
Privileges Required: None: The attacker is unauthorized prior to attack, and therefore does not require any access to settings or files to carry out an attack.
User Interaction: None: The vulnerable system can be exploited without any interaction from any user.
Scope: Unchanged: An exploited vulnerability can only affect resources managed by the same security authority. In this case, the vulnerable component and the impacted component are either the same, or both are managed by the same security authority.
Confidentiality: High: There is total loss of confidentiality, resulting in all resources within the impacted component being divulged to the attacker. Alternatively, access to only some restricted information is obtained, but the disclosed information presents a direct, serious impact.
Integrity: None: There is no loss of integrity within the impacted component.
Availability: None: There is no impact to availability within the impacted component.

Definitions: FIRST CVSS v3.1 specification.

Exploitation evidence

Disclosed: evidence found.
CVE published 4 Nov 2025
Detectable: no evidence on record.
No public nuclei template indexed
Weaponised: no evidence on record.
No public exploit code indexed in Metasploit or Exploit-DB
Exploited in the wildExploited: no evidence on record.
Not in CISA KEV and no source reports exploitation
Observed by OffSeq MirageSeen by Mirage: no evidence on record.
No attack traffic recorded by OffSeq Mirage sensors

A missing step is not evidence of safety. Sources: cve.org (opens in a new tab), the Metasploit, Exploit-DB and nuclei-templates index as of 2026-10-26.

Disclosed: The CVE record is public on cve.org. Its publication is t = 0.
Detectable: A public nuclei template can find exposed instances, for defenders and attackers alike.
Weaponised: Public exploit code exists in Metasploit or Exploit-DB, or CISA SSVC reports a public proof of concept.
Exploited in the wild: CISA KEV lists it, CISA SSVC rates exploitation active, or a source reports attacks.
Observed by OffSeq Mirage: OffSeq Mirage honeypot sensors recorded attack traffic for this CVE, or found exposed hosts without attack traffic.

Moments are spaced evenly, not to scale; a dashed line marks a gap of six months or more. Deltas count from t = 0. Sources that give only a date (CISA KEV, Exploit-DB, or a time of exactly 00:00Z) read “same day” rather than hours. Metasploit modules carry the flaw’s disclosure date, not their release date, and nuclei templates carry no date, so both appear above but not on the timeline.

What to do

Affected software

Product	Affected	Fixed in
Apple macOS	Affected =0	Fixed in–

AI-suggested

1. Immediately update all affected macOS systems to the patched versions: macOS Sequoia 15.7.2, macOS Sonoma 14.8.2, or macOS Tahoe 26.1. 2. Restrict the use of untrusted or third-party shortcuts, especially those sourced from unknown or unverified origins, to minimize risk of malicious shortcut execution. 3. Implement endpoint security controls that monitor and restrict the execution of shortcuts or automation scripts with file system access. 4. Educate users about the risks of running shortcuts that request extensive file access permissions and encourage cautious behavior. 5. Use macOS security features such as System Integrity Protection (SIP) and privacy controls to limit app access to sensitive directories. 6. Audit existing shortcuts for unnecessary file access permissions and remove or modify those that request broad access. 7. Employ application whitelisting or sandboxing techniques to contain the Shortcuts app and prevent unauthorized file access beyond intended scope. 8. Monitor system logs and file access patterns for anomalous behavior indicative of exploitation attempts. 9. For organizations, integrate vulnerability management processes to ensure timely patch deployment and verification. 10. Stay informed about updates from Apple and security advisories related to macOS Shortcuts and similar automation tools.

Description

A permissions issue was addressed with improved validation. This issue is fixed in macOS Sequoia 15.7.2, macOS Sonoma 14.8.2, macOS Tahoe 26.1. A shortcut may be able to access files that are normally inaccessible to the Shortcuts app.

Impact

The primary impact of CVE-2025-43414 is unauthorized disclosure of sensitive files on affected macOS systems. Attackers with local access can exploit the vulnerability to read files normally protected from the Shortcuts app, potentially exposing personal user data, corporate intellectual property, or confidential information. This breach of confidentiality could lead to privacy violations, data leaks, or further targeted attacks leveraging the exposed information. Since the vulnerability does not affect integrity or availability, it does not allow modification or disruption of system operations. However, the ease of exploitation without requiring privileges or user interaction increases the risk, especially in environments where untrusted shortcuts or scripts may be executed. Organizations relying on macOS for sensitive workloads or with strict data protection requirements face increased risk of data exposure if patches are not applied. The vulnerability also raises concerns about the security of automation tools that interact with the file system, emphasizing the need for rigorous access controls. While no known exploits are currently active, the medium severity rating and potential for data leakage warrant prompt remediation to prevent future exploitation.

CWE-284Improper Access Control (opens in a new tab)
Pillar weaknessCWE Top 25 (2025): #19OWASP Top 10 A01:2025: Broken Access Control (opens in a new tab)
The product does not restrict or incorrectly restricts access to a resource from an unauthorized actor.
MITRE discourages mapping vulnerabilities to this broad entry; the root cause is usually a more specific weakness.
Architecture and Design · Operation
Very carefully manage the setting, management, and handling of privileges. Explicitly manage trust zones in the software.
Architecture and Design · Separation of Privilege
Compartmentalize the system to have "safe" areas where trust boundaries can be unambiguously drawn. Do not allow sensitive data to go outside of the trust boundary and always be careful when interfacing with a compartment outside of the safe area.
OWASP Cheat Sheets
Docker Security (opens in a new tab)
Third Party Javascript Management (opens in a new tab)
Virtual Patching (opens in a new tab)
Authorization (opens in a new tab)
OWASP ASVS 4.0.3
V1.4.4 (opens in a new tab)
V1.4.5 (opens in a new tab)
V1.10.1 (opens in a new tab)
Attack patterns
Embedding Scripts within Scripts (opens in a new tab)
Modification of Windows Service Configuration (opens in a new tab)
Malicious Root Certificate (opens in a new tab)
Intent Spoof (opens in a new tab)
WebView Exposure (opens in a new tab)
From MITRE CWE, MITRE CAPEC and OWASP (Top 10, OpenCRE).

References

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Exploitation evidence

What to do

Affected software

Description

AI analysisMachine-generated, updated 3 Apr 2026, 02:17 UTC

WeaknessesCWE-284

Technical details

References

Community reviews

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