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How CVE-2025-31220 Works
This vulnerability allows malicious apps to bypass Apple’s privacy protections and access sensitive location data without user consent. The flaw stems from improper sandboxing in affected macOS/iPadOS versions, where location service APIs fail to enforce proper permission checks. Attackers craft a specially designed app that exploits this misconfiguration, enabling unauthorized access to GPS and network-based location history. The exposed data includes real-time coordinates, frequent locations, and geofence logs stored in unprotected system caches.
DailyCVE Form
Platform: Apple macOS/iPadOS
Version: Ventura 13.7.5, Sonoma 14.7.5, Sequoia 15.4, iPadOS 17.7.6
Vulnerability: Location data leak
Severity: Critical
Date: 05/27/2025
Prediction: Patch by 06/10/2025
What Undercode Say:
Exploitation:
1. Malicious app requests location access via `CLLocationManager`.
2. Exploits flawed `com.apple.locationd` process isolation.
- Dumps cached location data via
log show --predicate 'subsystem == "com.apple.locationd"'.
Protection:
- Disable location services:
sudo defaults write /var/db/locationd/Library/Preferences/ByHost/com.apple.locationd LocationServicesEnabled -bool false.
2. Apply Apple patches immediately.
- Monitor for suspicious `locationd` activity:
sudo fs_usage -f filesys locationd.
Detection Script:
import os
def check_locationd_perms():
if os.popen("ps aux | grep locationd").read().count("locationd") > 1:
print("WARNING: Unauthorized locationd instances detected.")
Mitigation Commands:
1. Reset location permissions: `tccutil reset Location`.
2. Delete location caches: `rm -rf /var/db/locationd/`.
3. Enable SIP: `csrutil enable`.
Network Monitoring:
sudo lsof -i | grep locationd sudo netstat -tuln | grep 443
ApplePatch Verification:
system_profiler SPInstallHistoryDataType | grep "Location Update"
Forensics:
1. Inspect `/Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/locationd`.
2. Check `sqlite3 /var/db/locationd/clients.plist “SELECT FROM clients”`.
SIGNOFF:
LocationLeak AppleZeroDay PatchNow
Sources:
Reported By: nvd.nist.gov
Extra Source Hub:
Undercode
