Microsoft Security Blog: Analyzing CVE-2025-31191: A macOS security-scoped bookmarks-based sandbox escape

May 1, 2025

—

Source URL: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/security/blog/2025/05/01/analyzing-cve-2025-31191-a-macos-security-scoped-bookmarks-based-sandbox-escape/
Source: Microsoft Security Blog
Title: Analyzing CVE-2025-31191: A macOS security-scoped bookmarks-based sandbox escape

Feedly Summary: Microsoft uncovered a vulnerability in macOS that could allow specially crafted codes to escape the App Sandbox and run unrestricted on the system. We shared our findings with Apple and a fix was released for this vulnerability, now identified as CVE-2025-31191. We encourage macOS users to apply security updates as soon as possible.
The post Analyzing CVE-2025-31191: A macOS security-scoped bookmarks-based sandbox escape appeared first on Microsoft Security Blog.

AI Summary and Description: Yes

Summary: This text discusses the discovery of a critical macOS vulnerability (CVE-2025-31191) that allows attackers to escape the macOS App Sandbox and execute unrestricted code. The findings illustrate the evolving tactics of cyber threats and underscore the importance of advanced security solutions, such as Microsoft Defender, in managing vulnerabilities and protecting users.

Detailed Description:
The analyzed content details a significant security vulnerability discovered in macOS, linked to the way sandboxing and file access permissions are managed for applications like Microsoft Office. The text covers the underlying mechanisms of the App Sandbox, highlighting how attackers may exploit these mechanisms to gain unauthorized access to system resources. Here are the major points of discussion:

– **Vulnerability Overview**:
– Microsoft identified a vulnerability that permits code execution outside the App Sandbox without user interaction.
– Exploitation could result in data exfiltration, privilege escalation, and malicious payload deployment.

– **Methodology**:
– Discovery was accomplished through research on malicious macro detection in Microsoft Office on macOS, recognizing parallels to previous sandbox escape vulnerabilities from 2022.
– The vulnerability relies on Office macros requiring user consent, which complicates exploit implementation.

– **Technical Insights**:
– The App Sandbox enforces strict rules on file access and operations, necessitating user interaction for file selections.
– New APIs in Office complicate traditional exploits, but persistent user choices in file access can be manipulated.

– **Key Technical Findings**:
– The vulnerability allows attackers to modify the macOS keychain entries that control security-scoped bookmarks, hence bypassing sandbox restrictions.
– The attacker’s ability to create arbitrary entries in the PLIST file may provide pathways for malicious activities.

– **Mitigation and Collaboration**:
– Microsoft’s responsible vulnerability disclosure to Apple led to the release of a security update.
– Emphasizes the necessity of real-time detection and remediation strategies through tools like Microsoft Defender for Endpoint.

– **Conclusion**:
– Continuous evolution of security threats underscores the need for ongoing research, vulnerability management, and collaboration within the cybersecurity community.
– Encourages organizations to adopt comprehensive security solutions to defend against sophisticated attacks targeting prevalent applications and platforms.

This examination not only highlights the specific vulnerability but also serves as a reminder of the broader implications for application security, user safety, and the importance of adopting proactive security measures in modern computing environments.

01 1 2 2025 3 5 a access access permissions Act advanced security AGI AI and API APIs app Apple Application application security applications Arch as attack attackers attacks based based sandbox Bi by bypass C chain CI CIA co code code execution Col collaboration community Computing computing environments Consent content control core critical CVE cyber cyber threat cyber threats cybersecurit Cybersecurity cybersecurity community D data data exfiltration de Defender deployment detection disclosure e election elections end endpoint environment execution exfiltration exp exploit Exploitation exploits file first for g Go gs H high Highlight HR http HTTPS implementation implications in insights inter interaction Iron IRS J k Key l Labor led Li Link linked low M mac MacOS macOS security malicious activities malicious payload man management measures media Micro Microsoft Microsoft Defender Microsoft Defender for Endpoint Microsoft Office Microsoft Security Microsoft Security Blog mission mitigation Mode Modern ModI N nation no o of off on only operation operations opt organization organizations out over permissions phi platform platforms point post pre privilege escalation proactive proactive security proactive security measures Q R rag rate RCE real real-time real-time detection red release remediation remediation strategies research resource resources responsible Ro RoT s safe safety sandbox sandbox escape sandboxing search sec security security community security measure security measures security solutions security threat security threats security update security updates security vulnerability SHA side Sig size solutions sophisticated attacks source specific SSE system system resources T tactics Tails tech technical insights text the threat threats Time time detection to tool tools TP trie UI unauthorized access under up update updates US use user User Choice user consent user interaction user safety Users uth V val vulnerabilities vulnerability vulnerability disclosure Vulnerability Management Wi x