Detect Apple Multiple Products Classic Buffer Overflow Exploitation (CVE-2025-43520) in IBM QRadar
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
QRadar Detection Query
SELECT
DATEFORMAT(starttime, 'YYYY-MM-dd HH:mm:ss') AS event_time,
sourceip,
destinationip,
destinationport,
"username",
"ProcessName",
"ParentProcessName",
"EventID",
QIDNAME(qid) AS event_name
FROM events
WHERE LOGSOURCETYPENAME(devicetype) IN ('Apple macOS', 'CrowdStrike Falcon', 'Carbon Black')
AND (
("ProcessName" ILIKE '%bash%' OR "ProcessName" ILIKE '%sh%' OR "ProcessName" ILIKE '%python3%' OR "ProcessName" ILIKE '%osascript%')
AND ("ParentProcessName" ILIKE '%Safari%' OR "ParentProcessName" ILIKE '%coreaudiod%' OR "ParentProcessName" ILIKE '%imagent%' OR "ParentProcessName" ILIKE '%mediaserverd%' OR "ParentProcessName" ILIKE '%avatard%')
)
OR (
destinationport IN (4444, 1337, 31337, 8080, 8443)
AND ("ProcessName" ILIKE '%Safari%' OR "ProcessName" ILIKE '%coreaudiod%' OR "ProcessName" ILIKE '%imagent%' OR "ProcessName" ILIKE '%mediaserverd%')
)
LAST 7 DAYS
ORDER BY starttime DESCQRadar AQL query detecting suspicious child process creation from Apple system processes and anomalous network connections that may indicate buffer overflow exploitation of CVE-2025-43520.
Data Sources
Required Tables
False Positives & Tuning
- Enterprise MDM solutions using AppleScript to invoke shell commands for device management
- Authorized penetration testing activities on macOS endpoints
- Software development workflows triggering shell processes from Apple frameworks
- Legitimate web proxies on standard ports used by Apple processes for update traffic
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.