CVE-2025-62686 is a local privilege escalation vulnerability found in the Plugin Alliance InstallationHelper service bundled with Plugin Alliance Installation Manager version 1.4.0 on macOS. The core issue stems from the absence of a hardened runtime environment and the lack of a __RESTRICT segment in the binary. These security features typically prevent unauthorized code injection and manipulation of environment variables that influence dynamic library loading. Specifically, the vulnerability allows a local attacker to leverage the DYLD_INSERT_LIBRARIES environment variable, which macOS uses to load additional dynamic libraries into processes. By injecting a malicious dynamic library, an attacker can execute arbitrary code within the context of the InstallationHelper service, which runs with elevated privileges. This results in privilege escalation from a standard user to higher system privileges, potentially granting full control over the affected machine. The vulnerability requires local access and does not depend on user interaction beyond executing or influencing the vulnerable service. As of the publication date, no known public exploits or patches exist, increasing the risk window. The affected software is primarily used in audio production environments, which may limit the scope but still poses a significant risk to users relying on this software for professional workflows on macOS systems.

For European organizations, the impact of this vulnerability can be significant, especially for those in creative industries such as music production, audio engineering, and multimedia content creation where Plugin Alliance software is commonly used. A successful exploit allows an attacker with local access to escalate privileges, potentially leading to full system compromise. This could result in unauthorized access to sensitive project files, intellectual property theft, disruption of production workflows, and the installation of persistent malware. The vulnerability undermines system integrity and confidentiality, and depending on the attacker’s intent, could also affect availability by disabling or corrupting critical software components. Organizations with macOS endpoints running this software are at risk, particularly if endpoint security controls are weak or if local user accounts are shared or poorly managed. The lack of a patch increases exposure time, and the absence of known exploits does not preclude targeted attacks, especially in high-value environments.

To mitigate this vulnerability, organizations should first restrict local user access to systems running the Plugin Alliance Installation Manager, ensuring that only trusted users have login privileges. Implement strict endpoint security policies that monitor and restrict the use of environment variables like DYLD_INSERT_LIBRARIES, which are commonly abused for code injection. Employ macOS security features such as System Integrity Protection (SIP) and enable full disk encryption to limit damage from compromised accounts. Regularly audit installed software versions and configurations to identify vulnerable instances of the Plugin Alliance software. Since no official patch is currently available, consider isolating or temporarily disabling the InstallationHelper service if feasible, or running it under least-privilege accounts. Maintain robust logging and monitoring to detect unusual process behavior or unauthorized library injections. Finally, stay informed about vendor updates and apply patches promptly once released.