diff --git a/private/system_server.te b/private/system_server.te
index f3d2ffd..4581417 100644
--- a/private/system_server.te
+++ b/private/system_server.te
@@ -963,6 +963,13 @@
 allow system_server apex_service:service_manager find;
 allow system_server apexd:binder call;
 
+# Allow the system server to read files under /data/apex. The system_server
+# needs these privileges to compare file signatures while processing installs.
+#
+# Only apexd is allowed to create new entries or write to any file under /data/apex.
+allow system_server apex_data_file:dir search;
+allow system_server apex_data_file:file r_file_perms;
+
 # dexoptanalyzer is currently used only for secondary dex files which
 # system_server should never access.
 neverallow system_server dexoptanalyzer_exec:file no_x_file_perms;