macOS Tahoe 26.1: Symlink Validation Flaw Allows App to Read Protected Data
CVE-2025-43461 Published on December 12, 2025
This issue was addressed with improved validation of symlinks. This issue is fixed in macOS Tahoe 26.1. An app may be able to access protected user data.
Vulnerability Analysis
CVE-2025-43461 can be exploited with local system access, and requires small amount of user privileges. 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 an insecure temporary file Vulnerability?
The software attempts to access a file based on the filename, but it does not properly prevent that filename from identifying a link or shortcut that resolves to an unintended resource.
CVE-2025-43461 has been classified to as an insecure temporary file vulnerability or weakness.
Products Associated with CVE-2025-43461
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Affected Versions
Apple macOS:- Version unspecified and below 26.1 is affected.
Exploit Probability
EPSS (Exploit Prediction Scoring System) scores estimate the probability that a vulnerability will be exploited in the wild within the next 30 days. The percentile shows you how this score compares to all other vulnerabilities.