VMware Tools Vulnerability: File Modification & Malicious Ops

A new macOS vulnerability, CVE-2025-31258, has been disclosed by security researcher wh1te4ever, along with a proof-of-concept (PoC) exploit published on GitHub.

The flaw shows how attackers can partially escape the macOS app sandbox using Apple’s RemoteViewServices framework.

The issue lies in how macOS handles inter-process communication (IPC). Attackers can exploit this weakness to run code outside of the sandbox, bypassing some security restrictions.

The PoC reveals that RemoteViewServices doesn’t properly validate data during certain view-hosting operations. A malicious app can abuse the createViewProxyWithOptions API to trigger a race condition, leading to unauthorized code execution in the system’s ViewBridge service, which runs as root.

This results in partial sandbox escape—allowing access to restricted folders like ~/Library and limited command execution. While it doesn’t grant full system (kernel) access, experts warn that chaining it with another kernel flaw could lead to a full device takeover.

With the PoC now public, there’s increased risk of attacks on unpatched systems. Apple has not yet released a fix.

A newly disclosed vulnerability, CVE-2025-31258, weakens the macOS App Sandbox—Apple’s key security feature that limits what apps can access. This flaw is especially dangerous for enterprise users, where sandboxed apps often handle sensitive data.

The bug affects macOS Ventura 13.4 through Sonoma 14.2. It requires users to open a malicious app, but once triggered, it can break out of the sandbox and access restricted parts of the system.

While no active attacks have been seen yet, a proof-of-concept (PoC) is now public, raising the risk of real-world exploitation. If abused, this flaw could:

• Bypass macOS privacy and permission controls (TCC)
• Steal encryption keys from password managers
• Modify protected system files and logs

Even though it’s a partial sandbox escape, security experts warn it could still be chained with other tools to exfiltrate data or launch ransomware.

Mitigation and Patch Status

Apple has rated this a high-severity issue (CVSS 7.8) and plans to patch it in macOS 14.3. Until then, security teams should:

• Block unknown apps and binaries using endpoint protection tools
• Review apps that use the RemoteViewServices API
• Watch for suspicious activity from the ViewBridge service

Developers are also being urged to review how they handle inter-process communication (IPC) and secure their XPC handlers.

For now, users should avoid installing unverified apps and ensure strict code-signing policies are in place.

This vulnerability is a reminder of the growing threats targeting macOS internals and the need for layered defenses—even inside the sandbox.