CVE-2025-43381

Protected data deletion via symlink handling

Published Dec 12, 2025 · Updated Dec 12, 2025

Symlink handling in CoreServicesUIAgent in Apple macOS before 26.1 allows local users to delete protected user data via a malicious app. Apple identifies inadequate symlink handling but has not disclosed the affected deletion operation or validation sequence. Execution of a malicious app under a low-privilege local account is required, and the reported consequence is deletion rather than disclosure or code execution.

CVSS severity5.5
Medium
EPSS probability0.20%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Symlink handling in CoreServicesUIAgent in Apple macOS before 26.1 allows local users to delete protected user data via a malicious app. Apple identifies inadequate symlink handling but has not disclosed the affected deletion operation or validation sequence. Execution of a malicious app under a low-privilege local account is required, and the reported consequence is deletion rather than disclosure or code execution.

The record

CVE
CVE-2025-43381
Published
Dec 12, 2025
Updated
Dec 12, 2025
Vendor
Apple
Product
macOS
Classifications
CWE-59, T1485
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Dec 12, 2025CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Dec 12, 2025Record 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=unspecified <26.1

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

Apple · macOSversion=unspecified <26.1

Published CVSS scores

5.5CISA-ADPCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:N

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.

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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
Privilegesauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-59Improper Link Resolution Before File Access ('Link Following')
T1485Data Destruction

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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