CVE-2025-46308

Executive Summary

CVE-2025-46308 is a local authorization bypass vulnerability affecting Apple iOS, iPadOS, and macOS Sequoia. The flaw resides in the operating system's state management, allowing a malicious application to leak sensitive user information without proper authorization checks. The vulnerability requires user interaction (running a malicious app) and has a low attack complexity, but the impact is limited to confidentiality. No public proof-of-concept or exploit code is available at this time. The patch was released in iOS 18.4, iPadOS 18.4, and macOS Sequoia 15.4.

Supply Chain & Package Security

This vulnerability is not related to NPM, PyPI, Go, or Ruby packages. It is a core operating system issue in Apple platforms.

CVSS Breakdown & Threat Level

• CVSS Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N
• Base Score: 5.5 (Medium)
• Attack Vector: Local (AV:L) – The attacker must have physical or local access to the device.
• Attack Complexity: Low (AC:L) – No special conditions are required.
• Privileges Required: None (PR:N) – No authentication needed.
• User Interaction: Required (UI:R) – The victim must run the malicious app.
• Scope: Unchanged (S:U) – The vulnerability does not affect other components.
• Confidentiality: High (C:H) – Sensitive user information can be leaked.
• Integrity: None (I:N) – No data modification.
• Availability: None (A:N) – No denial of service.

Threat Level: Medium. The vulnerability requires local access and user interaction, but the potential for data leakage is significant.

Deep Dive & Mechanics

The vulnerability is rooted in improper state management within the operating system's authorization framework. When an application requests access to sensitive user data (e.g., contacts, location, photos), the system is supposed to verify the app's entitlements and user consent. Due to a race condition or logic error in state handling, a malicious app can bypass these checks.

Technical Details:

• The flaw likely exists in the TCC (Transparency, Consent, and Control) subsystem or a similar authorization service.
• By manipulating the application's lifecycle or exploiting a window of opportunity during state transitions, the app can access protected resources without proper authorization.
• The attack does not require elevated privileges; any unprivileged app can attempt the exploit.
• The leaked data could include contacts, calendar events, location history, or other sensitive information stored in protected databases.

Vulnerable vs. Patched Code

Since no specific code is publicly available, the following is a conceptual comparison.

Vulnerable Code (Conceptual):

// Vulnerable state management
func requestAccess(to resource: Resource) -> Bool {
    if state == .authorized {
        return true
    }
    // Race condition: state can change between check and access
    return accessResource(resource)
}

Patched Code (Conceptual):

// Patched with atomic state management
func requestAccess(to resource: Resource) -> Bool {
    return accessResourceWithAuthorization(resource)
}

private func accessResourceWithAuthorization(_ resource: Resource) -> Bool {
    // Atomic check and access
    guard state == .authorized else {
        return false
    }
    return accessResource(resource)
}

The patch ensures that authorization checks and resource access are performed atomically, preventing race conditions.

Exploitation & Lab Setup

Red Team (Exploitation)

Prerequisites:

• A device running iOS < 18.4, iPadOS < 18.4, or macOS Sequoia < 15.4.
• A development environment (Xcode for iOS/macOS).
• A malicious app with no special entitlements.

Exploitation Steps:

1. Create a new iOS/macOS app project.
2. Implement code that attempts to access protected resources (e.g., CNContactStore, CLLocationManager).
3. Exploit the race condition by rapidly toggling the app's state (e.g., background/foreground) while requesting access.
4. Collect leaked data and exfiltrate it.

Example Code (Conceptual):

import Contacts

func exploitContacts() {
    let store = CNContactStore()
    // Race condition: request access while toggling state
    DispatchQueue.global().async {
        while true {
            store.requestAccess(for: .contacts) { granted, error in
                if granted {
                    // Leak contacts
                    let keys = [CNContactGivenNameKey, CNContactFamilyNameKey]
                    let request = CNContactFetchRequest(keysToFetch: keys as [CNKeyDescriptor])
                    try? store.enumerateContacts(with: request) { contact, _ in
                        // Exfiltrate contact data
                    }
                }
            }
        }
    }
}

Blue Team (Detection & Defense)

Detection:

• Monitor for apps that rapidly request authorization for multiple resources.
• Look for unusual patterns in TCC database access.
• Use endpoint detection and response (EDR) tools to flag anomalous app behavior.

Defense:

• Apply the official patch (iOS 18.4, iPadOS 18.4, macOS Sequoia 15.4).
• Restrict app installations to trusted sources only.
• Educate users about the risks of running untrusted apps.

Indicators of Compromise (IOCs)

• File Hashes: None available (no public exploit).
• Process Names: tccd (Transparency, Consent, and Control daemon) may show unusual activity.
• Network Traffic: Unexpected data exfiltration from a local app.
• Log Entries: TCC authorization logs showing repeated access attempts.
• Registry/Preferences: Modified TCC database entries.

Detection Engineering

YARA Rule

rule CVE_2025_46308_Authorization_Bypass {
    meta:
        description = "Detects potential exploitation of CVE-2025-46308"
        author = "Valters IT"
        date = "2025-04-10"
        reference = "CVE-2025-46308"
    strings:
        $s1 = "requestAccess" ascii wide nocase
        $s2 = "CNContactStore" ascii wide nocase
        $s3 = "CLLocationManager" ascii wide nocase
        $s4 = "PHPhotoLibrary" ascii wide nocase
    condition:
        any of ($s*) and #s1 > 5
}

Sigma Rule

title: CVE-2025-46308 Authorization Bypass Detection
id: 8a9b7c6d-5e4f-3a2b-1c0d-9e8f7a6b5c4d
status: experimental
description: Detects rapid authorization requests indicative of CVE-2025-46308 exploitation
author: Valters IT
date: 2025-04-10
references:
    - https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2025-46308
logsource:
    product: macos
    service: tcc
detection:
    selection:
        EventID: 1001  # TCC authorization event
        Count: 10
        Timeframe: 60s
    condition: selection
falsepositives:
    - Legitimate apps requesting multiple permissions
level: medium

Suricata Rule

alert tcp $HOME_NET any -> $EXTERNAL_NET $HTTP_PORTS (
    msg:"CVE-2025-46308 - Potential Data Exfiltration";
    flow:to_server,established;
    content:"POST"; http_method;
    content:"/exfil"; http_uri;
    pcre:"/contacts|location|photos/i";
    sid:1000001;
    rev:1;
    reference:cve,2025-46308;
)

Remediation & Mitigation

Immediate Actions:

1. Update all affected Apple devices to the latest OS versions:
   • iOS 18.4 or later
   • iPadOS 18.4 or later
   • macOS Sequoia 15.4 or later
2. Verify patch status using Settings > General > Software Update on iOS/iPadOS or System Settings > General > Software Update on macOS.

Long-Term Mitigations:

• Implement application sandboxing and least privilege principles.
• Regularly audit TCC authorization databases for anomalies.
• Deploy endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions that monitor for unauthorized data access.
• Educate users on the risks of installing apps from untrusted sources.

Workarounds:

• No effective workaround exists; patching is the only reliable mitigation.

Valters IT