Microsoft Uncovers Safety Flaw In macOS Highlight That May Leak Non-public Knowledge

Microsoft’s Menace Intelligence group has identified a now-fixed safety vulnerability in Apple’s macOS Highlight search software that would have allowed unauthorized entry to delicate consumer knowledge. The problem, internally dubbed “Sploitlight”, stemmed from how Highlight dealt with plugin recordsdata and doubtlessly bypassed Apple’s privateness safety framework generally known as Transparency, Consent, and Management (TCC).

The flaw made it doable for attackers to take advantage of Highlight’s plugin system—parts that usually assist index app content material for search and are confined inside a sandbox surroundings. Nevertheless, Microsoft’s researchers found a way to control these plugins to realize entry to cached knowledge generated by Apple’s AI options.

If exploited, the vulnerability might have uncovered a variety of personal info, together with:

• Exact location knowledge

• Photograph and video metadata

• Facial recognition knowledge from the Images app

• Search historical past

• Summaries generated by AI instruments, comparable to e-mail content material

• Consumer preferences and settings

Regardless of the intense implications, Microsoft confirmed that the vulnerability was not actively exploited. Following accountable disclosure practices, the corporate reported its findings to Apple, which rapidly addressed the difficulty.

Apple launched a repair as a part of macOS 15.4 and iOS 18.4, each rolled out on March 31. In keeping with Apple’s safety documentation, the patch concerned bettering how the system handles sure sorts of knowledge, serving to to make sure stricter management over plugin habits. Alongside the Highlight repair, Apple additionally resolved two extra vulnerabilities reported by Microsoft—one associated to symbolic hyperlink validation and one other involving system state administration.

This incident underscores the significance of cross-company collaboration in addressing rising safety threats, particularly as platforms proceed to combine AI and machine studying options. It additionally highlights the worth of standard system updates, as many vulnerabilities are addressed quietly behind the scenes.

For finish customers, no motion is required past making certain that units are updated. The problem has been resolved, and Apple’s fast response prevented the vulnerability from being weaponized in real-world assaults.

Filed in Apple >Computers. Learn extra about Apple, Cybersecurity, macOS, Microsoft, Privacy and Security.