CVE-2025-46291

Gatekeeper bypass via LaunchServices validation failure

Published Dec 17, 2025 · Updated Dec 17, 2025

Protection mechanism failure in Apple macOS allows local users to bypass Gatekeeper checks through an app processed by LaunchServices. LaunchServices performs insufficient validation when deciding whether the app must pass Gatekeeper, but Apple has not disclosed the exact faulty condition or input. Exploitation requires user interaction on macOS Sequoia before 15.7.4 or macOS Tahoe before 26.2 and defeats application execution safeguards without reported data disclosure or service interruption.

CVSS severity7.8
High
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

Protection mechanism failure in Apple macOS allows local users to bypass Gatekeeper checks through an app processed by LaunchServices. LaunchServices performs insufficient validation when deciding whether the app must pass Gatekeeper, but Apple has not disclosed the exact faulty condition or input. Exploitation requires user interaction on macOS Sequoia before 15.7.4 or macOS Tahoe before 26.2 and defeats application execution safeguards without reported data disclosure or service interruption.

The record

CVE
CVE-2025-46291
Published
Dec 17, 2025
Updated
Dec 17, 2025
Vendor
Apple
Product
macOS
Classifications
CWE-693, T1553.001
Attack vector
local
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Dec 17, 2025CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Dec 17, 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 <26.2

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Apple · macOSversion=unspecified <26.2

Published CVSS scores

7.8NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
5.5CISA-ADPCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/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.

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
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-693Protection Mechanism Failure
T1553.001Gatekeeper Bypass

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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