Detect Apple Multiple Products Classic Buffer Overflow Exploitation (CVE-2025-43520) in CrowdStrike LogScale
Detects exploitation attempts targeting CVE-2025-43520, a classic buffer overflow vulnerability (CWE-120) affecting Apple Multiple Products. This vulnerability is listed in CISA's Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog, indicating active exploitation in the wild. Buffer overflow exploitation may manifest as abnormal process crashes, memory corruption signals, unexpected child process spawning from Apple system processes, or anomalous network connections following process exploitation.
MITRE ATT&CK
- Tactic
- Initial Access Execution Persistence
LogScale Detection Query
event_simpleName IN ("ProcessRollup2", "NetworkConnectIP4", "NetworkConnectIP6")
| where
(
event_simpleName = "ProcessRollup2"
and ParentBaseFileName IN ("Safari", "coreaudiod", "imagent", "mediaserverd", "avatard", "bluetoothd", "configd")
and FileName IN ("bash", "sh", "zsh", "python3", "perl", "osascript", "curl", "wget")
)
or
(
event_simpleName IN ("NetworkConnectIP4", "NetworkConnectIP6")
and LocalAddressIP4 != RemoteAddressIP4
and RemotePort IN (4444, 1337, 31337, 8080, 8443)
and ImageFileName MATCHES "/(Safari|coreaudiod|imagent|mediaserverd|avatard|bluetoothd|configd)/"
)
| eval RiskCategory = if(event_simpleName = "ProcessRollup2", "ShellSpawnFromAppleProcess", "SuspiciousNetworkFromAppleProcess")
| table timestamp, ComputerName, UserName, ParentBaseFileName, FileName, CommandLine, RemoteAddressIP4, RemotePort, RiskCategory
| sort timestamp descCrowdStrike Falcon query detecting CVE-2025-43520 exploitation via shell process creation from Apple parent processes or suspicious outbound network connections from Apple system binaries on macOS.
Data Sources
Required Tables
False Positives & Tuning
- Legitimate Apple system daemons spawning scripting interpreters during software updates
- IT management agents using Apple processes as intermediaries to invoke shell commands
- Authorized red team exercises targeting macOS endpoints with known IP ranges
- Enterprise proxy configurations causing Apple processes to connect on monitored ports
Other platforms for CVE-2025-43520
Testing Methodology
Validate this detection against 4 adversary techniques from Atomic Red Team. Each test below lists the behaviour to exercise and the telemetry you should expect to see. Executable commands and cleanup steps are available with Pro.
- Test 1Simulate Shell Spawn from Apple-Like Parent Process
Expected signal: Process creation event showing osascript spawning bash; command line includes 'id' and 'hostname'.
- Test 2Simulate Suspicious Outbound Network Connection from Apple Process Context
Expected signal: Network connection attempt to port 4444 initiated by process tree rooted at osascript.
- Test 3Generate Apple Process Crash Report for Forensic Artifact Validation
Expected signal: Process crash event for bash with signal SIGSEGV; diagnostic report written to DiagnosticReports directory.
- Test 4Enumerate Persistence Mechanisms Post-Exploitation Simulation
Expected signal: File creation event for .plist file in ~/Library/LaunchAgents/; optional launchctl load event.
References (9)
- https://support.apple.com/en-us/125632
- https://support.apple.com/en-us/125633
- https://support.apple.com/en-us/125634
- https://support.apple.com/en-us/125635
- https://support.apple.com/en-us/125636
- https://support.apple.com/en-us/125637
- https://support.apple.com/en-us/125638
- https://support.apple.com/en-us/125639
- https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2025-43520
Unlock Pro Content
Get the full detection package for CVE-2025-43520 including response playbook, investigation guide, and atomic red team tests.