CVE-2025-43220

Protected data disclosure via symlink validation

Published Jul 29, 2025 · Updated Apr 2, 2026

Symlink validation in copyfile in Apple macOS and iPadOS allows attackers to read protected user data through a malicious app. The copyfile component follows insufficiently validated symbolic links during file operations, allowing a link target to cross protected-data boundaries. Exploitation requires an app to run locally and can disclose protected user files; no ability to modify data or interrupt the system is reported.

CVSS severity9.8
Critical
EPSS probability0.86%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Symlink validation in copyfile in Apple macOS and iPadOS allows attackers to read protected user data through a malicious app. The copyfile component follows insufficiently validated symbolic links during file operations, allowing a link target to cross protected-data boundaries. Exploitation requires an app to run locally and can disclose protected user files; no ability to modify data or interrupt the system is reported.

The record

CVE
CVE-2025-43220
Published
Jul 29, 2025
Updated
Apr 2, 2026
Vendor
Apple
Product
macOS
Classifications
CWE-59, T1005
Attack vector
local
Privileges
Unavailable

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Jul 29, 2025CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Apr 2, 2026Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

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Is a vulnerable build present?

Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.

  1. Affected versionversion=0 <13.7.7
  2. Affected versionversion=0 <14.7.7
  3. Affected versionversion=0 <15.6

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesUnavailable in this record.

What is affected?

Apple · macOSversion=0 <13.7.7; version=0 <14.7.7; version=0 <15.6
Apple · iPadOSversion=0 <17.7.9

Published CVSS scores

9.8CISA-ADPCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.

Attacks

What attackers are doing with it

Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.

Daily unique IPsNo honeypot observations are available for this CVE in the selected window.

No observations available

Sep 10, 2026Sep 16, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 16, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectorlocal
PrivilegesUnavailable
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-59Improper Link Resolution Before File Access ('Link Following')
T1005Data from Local System

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.

Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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