CVE-2025-43518

Local file disclosure via flawed spellcheck access checks

Published Dec 12, 2025 · Updated Dec 12, 2025

Improper access control in Foundation on macOS Sonoma before 14.8.3, Sequoia before 15.7.3, and Tahoe before 26.2 allows local users to read files. The spellcheck API performs inadequate access checks on file requests, but Apple has not disclosed the affected function or exact logic error. A local user must run an app that invokes the API; the reported consequence is unauthorized file reading, with no integrity or availability impact.

CVSS severity3.3
Low
EPSS probability0.16%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Improper access control in Foundation on macOS Sonoma before 14.8.3, Sequoia before 15.7.3, and Tahoe before 26.2 allows local users to read files. The spellcheck API performs inadequate access checks on file requests, but Apple has not disclosed the affected function or exact logic error. A local user must run an app that invokes the API; the reported consequence is unauthorized file reading, with no integrity or availability impact.

The record

CVE
CVE-2025-43518
Published
Dec 12, 2025
Updated
Dec 12, 2025
Vendor
Apple
Product
macOS
Classifications
CWE-284, 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 <14.8
  2. Affected versionversion=unspecified <15.7

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

Apple · macOSversion=unspecified <14.8; version=unspecified <15.7

Published CVSS scores

3.3CISA-ADPCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:L/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.

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

No observations available

Sep 9, 2026Sep 15, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 15, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectorlocal
Privilegesauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-284Improper Access Control
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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