macOS <15.4 Symlink Bypass Access to Protected Data
CVE-2025-43278 Published on June 11, 2026
This issue was addressed with improved handling of symlinks. This issue is fixed in macOS Sequoia 15.4. An app may be able to access protected user data.
Vulnerability Analysis
CVE-2025-43278 is exploitable with local system access, requires user interaction. This vulnerability is considered to have a low attack complexity. The potential impact of an exploit of this vulnerability is considered to have a high impact on confidentiality, with no impact on integrity and availability.
Weakness Type
What is a Symlink following Vulnerability?
The software, when opening a file or directory, does not sufficiently account for when the file is a symbolic link that resolves to a target outside of the intended control sphere. This could allow an attacker to cause the software to operate on unauthorized files. A software system that allows UNIX symbolic links (symlink) as part of paths whether in internal code or through user input can allow an attacker to spoof the symbolic link and traverse the file system to unintended locations or access arbitrary files. The symbolic link can permit an attacker to read/write/corrupt a file that they originally did not have permissions to access.
CVE-2025-43278 has been classified to as a Symlink following vulnerability or weakness.
Products Associated with CVE-2025-43278
Want to know whenever a new CVE is published for Apple macOS? stack.watch will email you.
Affected Versions
Apple macOS:- Before 15.4 is affected.