CVE-2025-43446 Path traversal in macOS

Medium 5.5 Published 4 Nov 2025 Updated 2 Apr 2026

An app can modify protected file system parts due to insufficient symlink validation, requiring an OS update.

Exploited in the wild: Not known
Login needed: Any signed-in user
Attackable: Local or same network only
Victim action needed: Not needed
Fix: None listed

What is CVE-2025-43446?

CVE-2025-43446 is a medium-severity path traversal vulnerability in Apple Macos, published on 4 Nov 2025. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.

Official description

This issue was addressed with improved validation of symlinks. This issue is fixed in macOS Sequoia 15.7.2, macOS Sonoma 14.8.2, macOS Tahoe 26.1. An app may be able to modify protected parts of the file system.

Weakness: CWE-59

Which versions are affected by CVE-2025-43446?

It affects 1 product.

Products include Apple Macos.

How do I fix CVE-2025-43446?

No fix has been published for CVE-2025-43446 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

Upgrade, and resolve every user-supplied path against an allowed base folder before opening it. More about Path traversal.

Is CVE-2025-43446 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2025-43446 in the wild and no public exploit code.

All Apple Macos vulnerabilities

Sources

Also known as GHSA-rfwj-hvcp-2885.