CVE-2025-46289: 
macOS vulnerability analysis and mitigation

CVE-2025-46289 is a logic issue in the AppSandbox component of Apple macOS that allows an app to access protected user data. It affects macOS Sonoma versions 14.0 through 14.8.3 (exclusive) and macOS Sequoia versions 15.0 through 15.7.3 (exclusive), and is also addressed in macOS Tahoe 26.2. The vulnerability was disclosed on December 12, 2025, and was reported by an anonymous researcher (Apple Sequoia Advisory, Apple Sonoma Advisory). It carries a CVSS v3.1 base score of 5.5 (Medium) (Apple Sequoia Advisory).

The vulnerability is classified as CWE-285 (Improper Authorization) and stems from a logic issue in macOS's AppSandbox file handling that fails to properly enforce access controls on protected user data (Apple Sequoia Advisory, Apple Sonoma Advisory). Exploitation requires local access and user interaction (e.g., a user running a malicious app), with no privileges required. Apple addressed the issue with improved file handling logic in the patched releases. No public proof-of-concept code or detailed technical write-up has been published.

Successful exploitation allows a malicious app to bypass AppSandbox protections and access protected user data that it should not be permitted to read, resulting in a high confidentiality impact. There is no integrity or availability impact. The scope is limited to the local system, but sensitive personal data stored on the affected macOS device could be exposed to an unauthorized application (Apple Sequoia Advisory, Apple Sonoma Advisory).

There is no known public exploit code, active in-the-wild exploitation, or threat actor attribution associated with CVE-2025-46289. The EPSS score is approximately 0.018% (0.000180), indicating a very low probability of exploitation in the near term (Feedly). The vulnerability is not listed in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog. Exploitation requires a user to run a malicious local application, limiting the attack surface.

Apple has released patches addressing this vulnerability in macOS Sequoia 15.7.3, macOS Sonoma 14.8.3, and macOS Tahoe 26.2, all released on December 12, 2025 (Apple Sequoia Advisory, Apple Sonoma Advisory, Apple Tahoe Advisory). Users should update their macOS systems to the patched versions via System Settings > Software Update. No configuration-based workarounds have been published by Apple.

The vulnerability was noted in standard security community channels including SANS ISC and CIS advisories, which flagged it as part of Apple's December 2025 security update batch (CIS Advisory). No notable individual researcher commentary or significant social media discussion specific to this CVE has been identified beyond routine vulnerability tracking.