CVE-2025-64724 is a vulnerability identified in the Arduino IDE for macOS, specifically in versions prior to 2.3.7. The root cause is incorrect default file permissions (CWE-276) where sensitive application components are installed with world-writable permissions. This misconfiguration allows any local user on the system to modify or replace legitimate application files with malicious code. When another user launches the Arduino IDE, the malicious code executes with that user's privileges, enabling privilege escalation and unauthorized access to sensitive data or system resources. The vulnerability requires local access and some privileges but does not require user interaction to exploit once the malicious files are in place. The CVSS 4.0 vector indicates local attack vector (AV:L), low attack complexity (AC:L), no privileges required for the attack (PR:L), no user interaction (UI:N), and low impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability (VC:L, VI:L, VA:N). The flaw is addressed in Arduino IDE version 2.3.7, which corrects the file permissions to prevent unauthorized modification. No known exploits are reported in the wild as of the publication date. This vulnerability primarily affects macOS users of Arduino IDE, which is widely used in educational, hobbyist, and professional development contexts for embedded systems and IoT projects.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2025-64724 can be significant in environments where multiple users share macOS systems with Arduino IDE installed, such as universities, research labs, and development teams. An attacker with local access could escalate privileges by injecting malicious code into the IDE’s application files, potentially gaining unauthorized access to sensitive project data or system resources. This could lead to intellectual property theft, disruption of development workflows, or further lateral movement within a network if the compromised user has elevated privileges. Although the vulnerability requires local access, the risk is heightened in shared or multi-user systems common in educational and collaborative environments. The medium severity rating reflects limited remote exploitation potential but meaningful impact on confidentiality and integrity if exploited. Organizations relying on Arduino IDE for critical development should consider this vulnerability a priority to address to prevent insider threats or exploitation by malicious local users.

1. Upgrade all installations of Arduino IDE on macOS to version 2.3.7 or later, where the file permission issue is fixed. 2. Audit existing Arduino IDE installations on macOS to verify file permissions of application components, ensuring they are not world-writable. Use commands like 'ls -l' to check permissions and 'chmod' to correct them if necessary. 3. Limit local user access on shared macOS systems to trusted personnel only, reducing the risk of malicious file replacement. 4. Implement endpoint protection and monitoring to detect unauthorized file modifications in application directories. 5. Educate users about the risks of running software with elevated privileges and the importance of reporting suspicious behavior. 6. Consider deploying macOS security features such as System Integrity Protection (SIP) and mandatory access controls to restrict unauthorized file changes. 7. Regularly review and update software inventories and patch management processes to ensure timely application of security updates.