CVE-2025-5199 is a high-severity vulnerability affecting Canonical Multipass up to and including version 1.15.1 on macOS. The root cause is incorrect default permissions (CWE-276) on files executed by a Launch Daemon during system startup. Specifically, these files have permissions that allow a local attacker with limited privileges to modify them. Because the Launch Daemon runs with administrative privileges, an attacker who can alter these files can escalate their privileges to administrative level. This vulnerability requires local access and some user interaction but does not require full administrative rights initially. The vulnerability impacts confidentiality, integrity, and availability since an attacker can execute arbitrary code with elevated privileges, potentially leading to full system compromise. The CVSS v3.1 score is 7.3 (high), reflecting the ease of exploitation with low complexity and the significant impact on system security. No known exploits are currently in the wild, and no patches have been linked yet, indicating that mitigation may rely on configuration changes or awaiting vendor updates. The vulnerability affects macOS users of Multipass, a tool widely used for managing lightweight virtual machines, often in development and testing environments.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a significant risk especially to development teams and IT departments using Multipass on macOS systems. Exploitation could allow attackers to gain administrative control over affected machines, leading to potential data breaches, unauthorized access to sensitive information, and disruption of critical services. Since Multipass is often used for cloud and containerized application development, a successful attack could also compromise development pipelines or staging environments, potentially allowing attackers to inject malicious code into production workflows. The local nature of the attack means that insider threats or attackers who have gained limited access to endpoints could escalate privileges and move laterally within networks. This risk is heightened in organizations with macOS-heavy environments or those relying on Multipass for virtualization. The lack of patches at the time of disclosure means organizations must act quickly to implement mitigations to prevent exploitation.

Organizations should immediately audit macOS systems running Multipass for versions up to 1.15.1 and restrict local user permissions to prevent unauthorized file modifications related to the Launch Daemon. Until an official patch is released, consider disabling or restricting the Multipass service on macOS systems where it is not essential. Employ macOS security features such as System Integrity Protection (SIP) to limit the ability to modify system files and daemons. Monitor system logs for unusual modifications to Multipass-related files or Launch Daemon activities. Implement strict endpoint security controls, including application whitelisting and file integrity monitoring, to detect and prevent unauthorized changes. Educate local users about the risks of privilege escalation and enforce least privilege principles to reduce the attack surface. Once Canonical releases a patch, prioritize timely deployment across all affected systems. Additionally, consider isolating development environments using network segmentation to limit potential lateral movement if exploitation occurs.