CVE-2025-43446: Apple macOS · An app may be able to modify protected parts of the file system
Affects Apple macOSSource CVE Database V5
Not known to be exploited · CVSS 5.5 Medium · fixed in 15.7.2 : update Apple macOS when convenient.
Data as of 26 Oct 2026, 07:57 UTC
- EPSS
- 0.2% chance of exploitation in 30 days – higher than 13% 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:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:NExploitation 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.
What to do
Affected software
| Product | Affected | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|
| Apple macOS | Affected
| Fixed in– |
AI-suggested
To mitigate CVE-2025-43446, organizations should immediately apply the security updates provided by Apple in macOS Sequoia 15.7.2, Sonoma 14.8.2, and Tahoe 26.1 or later. Beyond patching, administrators should audit and restrict local application permissions to minimize the risk of untrusted apps gaining the ability to create or manipulate symlinks. Employing endpoint protection solutions that monitor file system changes and symlink creation can help detect exploitation attempts. Implementing strict user account controls and limiting local administrative privileges reduces the attack surface. Additionally, regular integrity checks of critical system files and configurations can help identify unauthorized modifications early. Organizations should also educate users about the risks of running untrusted applications locally and enforce policies to prevent installation of unauthorized software.
Description
This issue was addressed with improved validation of symlinks. This issue is fixed in macOS Sequoia 15.7.2, macOS Sonoma 14.8.2, macOS Tahoe 26.1. An app may be able to modify protected parts of the file system.