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TI-2025-07873 Aliases CVE-2025-8597GHSA-fr79-fj3v-59wf

Privilege Escalation via get-task-allow entitlement in MacVim.app

Priority LOW 21CWE-497Published · Updated

Key facts

Attack vector
Local
Privileges required
Low
User interaction
None
Attack complexity
Low
Attack requirements
None
Impact type
Information disclosure
Confidentiality · integrity · availability
Low · Low · None
Fix status
Fixed

Attack profile from CVSS 4.0 · CNA. Fix status from CNA. Impact type from CWE-497.

Summary

MacVim's configuration on macOS, specifically the presence of entitlement "com.apple.security.get-task-allow", allows local attackers with unprivileged access (e.g. via a malicious application) to attach a debugger, read or modify the process memory, inject code in the application's context despite being signed with Hardened Runtime and bypass Transparency, Consent, and Control (TCC). Acquired resource access is limited to previously granted permissions by the user. Access to other resources beyond granted permissions requires user interaction with a system prompt asking for permission. According to Apple documentation, when a non-root user runs an app with the debugging tool entitlement, the system presents an authorization dialog asking for a system administrator's credentials. Since there is no prompt when the target process has "get-task-allow" entitlement, the presence of this entitlement was decided to be treated as a vulnerability because it removes one step needed to perform an attack. This issue was fixed in build r181.2

Why it matters now

Exploitation None reported CISA SSVC · not in CISA KEV
EPSS 0.0014 3rd percentileScored 2026-11-07
Fix Fixed MacVim (MacVim): r181.2

SSVC decision points

CISA ADP · SSVC 2.0.3

Exploitation
None
Automatable
No
Technical impact
Partial

The decision (Track, Attend, Act) also depends on your mission and well-being impact; see CISA's SSVC guide.

Affected products

VendorProductAffected versionsFixed inStatusSource
MacVimMacVimbefore r181.2r181.2Patch availableCNA
  • MacVim VendorMacVim Affected before r181.2 Fixed in r181.2 Patch available CNA

Remediation

  • Fix · CNA MacVim (MacVim) Fixed in r181.2

Timeline

  1. 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2025-8597
  2. 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-fr79-fj3v-59wf

References

  • TI-2023-21662 Macvim's Insecure Usage of IPC Mechanisms CVSS 3.1HIGH 7.8

Sources