TCC bypass via enabled RunAsNode fuse
Published Aug 26, 2025 · Updated Aug 26, 2025
Incorrect default permissions in Anysphere Cursor 15.4.1 allow local users to execute code with the app's existing macOS TCC access. The macOS application binary leaves Electron's RunAsNode fuse enabled, so ELECTRON_RUN_AS_NODE makes the signed executable act as a generic Node.js process and inherit Cursor's TCC grants. An unprivileged local foothold is required; previously approved resources can be accessed silently, while new TCC scopes display a consent prompt under Cursor's name.
Summary
What happened
Incorrect default permissions in Anysphere Cursor 15.4.1 allow local users to execute code with the app's existing macOS TCC access. The macOS application binary leaves Electron's RunAsNode fuse enabled, so ELECTRON_RUN_AS_NODE makes the signed executable act as a generic Node.js process and inherit Cursor's TCC grants. An unprivileged local foothold is required; previously approved resources can be accessed silently, while new TCC scopes display a consent prompt under Cursor's name.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2025-9190
- Published
- Aug 26, 2025
- Updated
- Aug 26, 2025
- Vendor
- Anysphere
- Product
- Cursor
- Classifications
- CWE-276, T1548.006
- Attack vector
- local
- Privileges
- authenticated
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Aug 26, 2025CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- Aug 26, 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.
- Affected versionversion=15.4.1
What conditions does exploitation require?
What is affected?
Published CVSS scores
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.
Weakness, pattern, technique
Public exploit references
- AFINE Cursor RunAsNode LaunchAgent proof of conceptproof of concept · demonstrated
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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