CVE-2025-6183 is a high-severity vulnerability classified under CWE-78, which pertains to improper neutralization of special elements used in OS command execution, commonly known as OS Command Injection. This vulnerability affects the StrongDM sdm-cli client specifically on macOS platforms. The root cause lies in the improper processing of JSON-formatted messages by the client. An attacker capable of crafting a malicious JSON message can exploit this flaw to inject arbitrary OS commands. Because the vulnerability does not require authentication, user interaction, or privileges, it presents a significant risk. Successful exploitation could allow an attacker to execute arbitrary commands on the macOS system, potentially modifying system configurations, altering security settings, or installing persistent malware. The CVSS 4.0 score of 7 (high) reflects the vulnerability's ease of exploitation (local access required), lack of authentication, and the high impact on both integrity and availability of the affected system. Although no known exploits are currently in the wild, the nature of the vulnerability makes it a prime candidate for future exploitation, especially in environments where StrongDM sdm-cli is used for secure access management and command execution. The vulnerability affects version 0 of the product, indicating it may be present in initial or early releases, which could be widely deployed in some environments. The lack of available patches at the time of publication further increases the urgency for mitigation.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2025-6183 could be substantial, especially for those relying on StrongDM sdm-cli on macOS for secure access and management of infrastructure. Exploitation could lead to unauthorized modification of system configurations, potentially disrupting critical services or enabling lateral movement within networks. This could compromise confidentiality, integrity, and availability of sensitive data and systems. Organizations in sectors such as finance, healthcare, government, and critical infrastructure, which often use macOS clients for administrative tasks, could face operational disruptions and regulatory compliance issues under GDPR if personal data is affected. The vulnerability’s local attack vector means that attackers would need some level of access to the target machine, which could be achieved through phishing, insider threats, or other initial compromise methods. Given the increasing adoption of StrongDM for zero-trust network access, exploitation could undermine trust in access controls and lead to broader network compromise.

1. Immediate mitigation should include restricting access to macOS systems running StrongDM sdm-cli to trusted users only and monitoring for unusual JSON message traffic or command execution patterns. 2. Organizations should implement strict endpoint security controls, including application whitelisting and behavior-based detection to identify anomalous command execution. 3. Network segmentation should be enforced to limit the ability of an attacker to reach vulnerable macOS clients. 4. Until an official patch is released, consider disabling or uninstalling the affected sdm-cli client on macOS if feasible. 5. Employ runtime application self-protection (RASP) or host-based intrusion prevention systems (HIPS) to detect and block command injection attempts. 6. Conduct thorough audits of system configurations and logs to identify any signs of exploitation. 7. Educate users about the risks of executing untrusted commands or opening suspicious files that could trigger malicious JSON messages. 8. Once available, promptly apply vendor patches and verify their effectiveness through testing.