CVE-2025-24115 is a vulnerability in Apple macOS stemming from a path handling issue classified under CWE-125 (Out-of-bounds Read). This flaw allows an application to bypass sandbox restrictions and read files outside its designated sandbox environment. The root cause is insufficient validation of file paths, which can be manipulated to access unauthorized filesystem locations. The vulnerability affects macOS versions prior to Ventura 13.7.3, Sequoia 15.3, and Sonoma 14.7.3, where Apple has implemented improved path validation to mitigate the issue. Exploitation requires an attacker to have local access to the system and to trick a user into running a malicious app (user interaction required), but no elevated privileges are necessary. The CVSS v3.1 score is 5.5, indicating medium severity, with a vector of AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N, meaning the attack is local, requires low complexity, no privileges, user interaction, and impacts confidentiality but not integrity or availability. No known exploits have been reported in the wild, suggesting limited active exploitation at this time. The vulnerability poses a risk of unauthorized disclosure of sensitive files, which could include personal data, credentials, or corporate secrets, depending on the files accessed. This can lead to privacy violations and potential compliance issues for organizations handling regulated data.

For European organizations, the primary impact is unauthorized disclosure of sensitive information due to an app reading files outside its sandbox. This can compromise confidentiality of personal data, intellectual property, or sensitive corporate information. Sectors such as finance, healthcare, government, and critical infrastructure that rely on macOS devices are particularly at risk. Data breaches resulting from this vulnerability could lead to regulatory penalties under GDPR and damage to organizational reputation. Since exploitation requires local access and user interaction, the threat is more significant in environments where endpoint security is lax or where users may be tricked into running untrusted applications. The vulnerability does not affect system integrity or availability directly but can serve as a stepping stone for further attacks if sensitive credentials or configuration files are exposed. The absence of known exploits reduces immediate risk but does not eliminate the potential for future attacks, especially as attackers develop proof-of-concept code.

European organizations should take the following specific steps: 1) Immediately deploy the security updates provided by Apple for macOS Ventura 13.7.3, Sequoia 15.3, and Sonoma 14.7.3 or later to all affected devices. 2) Enforce strict application whitelisting and limit installation of apps to those from trusted sources such as the Apple App Store or verified developers. 3) Educate users about the risks of running untrusted applications and the importance of verifying app authenticity before execution. 4) Implement endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions capable of monitoring for unusual file access patterns indicative of sandbox escape attempts. 5) Regularly audit and restrict local user permissions to minimize the impact of local attacks. 6) Use macOS security features such as System Integrity Protection (SIP) and Full Disk Encryption to reduce exposure of sensitive files. 7) Monitor for any emerging exploit reports or indicators of compromise related to this CVE and update defenses accordingly.