CVE-2023-42853 is a logic-based vulnerability identified in Apple macOS that allows an application to bypass intended access controls and read user-sensitive data. The root cause is an insufficient verification mechanism within the operating system's logic, which fails to adequately restrict app access to sensitive information. This vulnerability affects multiple macOS versions prior to the patched releases: Sonoma 14.1, Monterey 12.7.1, and Ventura 13.6.1. The Common Weakness Enumeration (CWE) associated with this issue is CWE-284, which relates to improper access control. According to the CVSS v3.1 vector (AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N), exploitation requires local access (AV:L), low attack complexity (AC:L), no privileges (PR:N), and user interaction (UI:R). The scope remains unchanged (S:U), and the impact is high on confidentiality (C:H) but none on integrity or availability. No public exploits have been reported, indicating that exploitation may require specific conditions or user involvement. The vulnerability could be leveraged by malicious or compromised applications to access sensitive user data such as personal files, credentials, or other protected information, potentially leading to privacy breaches or data leakage. Apple addressed the issue by implementing improved logic checks in the specified macOS updates, closing the access control gap.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a risk of unauthorized disclosure of sensitive user data on macOS devices. Sectors such as finance, healthcare, legal, and government, which handle confidential information, could be particularly impacted. The breach of confidentiality could lead to regulatory non-compliance under GDPR, resulting in legal penalties and reputational damage. Since exploitation requires local access and user interaction, the threat is more relevant in environments where users might install untrusted applications or be targeted by social engineering attacks. The vulnerability does not affect system integrity or availability, so it is less likely to cause operational disruption but can facilitate data exfiltration or espionage. Organizations with a significant macOS user base and lax endpoint security controls are at higher risk. The absence of known exploits in the wild reduces immediate threat but does not eliminate the risk of future attacks leveraging this flaw.

1. Apply the official Apple patches by upgrading to macOS Sonoma 14.1, Monterey 12.7.1, or Ventura 13.6.1 as soon as possible to remediate the vulnerability. 2. Enforce strict application installation policies, limiting users to trusted and vetted software sources to reduce the risk of malicious apps exploiting the flaw. 3. Implement endpoint protection solutions capable of monitoring and restricting unauthorized access attempts to sensitive data on macOS devices. 4. Educate users about the risks of installing untrusted applications and the importance of cautious interaction with prompts requiring permissions. 5. Use macOS built-in privacy and security features to restrict app permissions and access to sensitive data directories. 6. Conduct regular audits of installed applications and their permissions to detect and remove potentially risky software. 7. Monitor logs for unusual access patterns or attempts to read sensitive data by applications, enabling early detection of exploitation attempts.