CVE-2025-43461

Protected-data disclosure via configd symlink following

Published Dec 12, 2025 · Updated Dec 12, 2025

Improper link resolution in configd in Apple macOS before 26.1 allows local users to read protected user data through an app. configd fails to validate symbolic links before following them during file access, allowing an app-controlled link to redirect access to a protected path. Local low-privileged code execution is required, and the reported consequence is protected-data disclosure without integrity or availability impact.

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

Improper link resolution in configd in Apple macOS before 26.1 allows local users to read protected user data through an app. configd fails to validate symbolic links before following them during file access, allowing an app-controlled link to redirect access to a protected path. Local low-privileged code execution is required, and the reported consequence is protected-data disclosure without integrity or availability impact.

The record

CVE
CVE-2025-43461
Published
Dec 12, 2025
Updated
Dec 12, 2025
Vendor
Apple
Product
macOS
Classifications
CWE-59, T1005
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:H/I:N/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')
T1005Data from Local System

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

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Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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