Xcode 16.3 Security Update

What Xcode 16.3 Fixes

Xcode 16.3, released March 31, 2025, fixes 3 vulnerabilities in 3 parts of the system, according to Apple's security advisory.

Apple does not say that any of them were exploited before the fix. That makes Xcode 16.3 a routine security update: worth installing soon, not an emergency.

It has since been superseded: the newest security release for Xcode is Xcode 27.2, from October 29, 2026, which includes these fixes.

Grouped by us from the impact Apple gives for each fix; the impact lines below are Apple's own.

Which Devices Get Xcode 16.3

Apple lists Xcode 16.3 for: macOS Sequoia 15.2 and later.

How to Install Xcode 16.3

Xcode updates come from the Mac App Store, or as a download from Apple's developer website for anyone who keeps more than one version installed.

Security fixes are cumulative: any later release for the same version includes these as well, so if you are already past Xcode 16.3 there is nothing to do.

Every Fix in Xcode 16.3

All 3 CVEs in Apple's advisory, the most serious kinds first. Each entry is the part of the system affected, Apple's description of the impact and the fix, and the CVE ID.

• IDE Assets

  A malicious app may be able to access private information

  The issue was addressed with improved checks.

  CVE-2025-24226

• Playgrounds

  An app may be able to bypass Privacy preferences

  A permissions issue was addressed with additional restrictions.

  CVE-2025-31186

• Instruments

  An app may be able to overwrite arbitrary files

  This issue was addressed through improved state management.

  CVE-2025-30441

Xcode Security Release History

Xcode 16.3 in context: the security releases Apple has published for Xcode, newest first, with the number of fixes each carried.

Frequently Asked Questions