CVE-2025-24116 is a vulnerability identified in Apple macOS that allows an application to bypass the system's Privacy preferences, which are designed to restrict app access to sensitive user data and system resources. The root cause is an access control weakness related to sandboxing mechanisms, where insufficient restrictions enable an app with limited privileges to circumvent privacy protections. This vulnerability is classified under CWE-862 (Missing Authorization), indicating that the system fails to properly enforce authorization checks before granting access. The issue affects multiple recent macOS versions, including Ventura, Sequoia, and Sonoma, and was addressed by Apple in security updates 13.7.3, 15.3, and 14.7.3 respectively. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 4.4 (medium severity), reflecting that exploitation requires local access (AV:L), low complexity (AC:L), low privileges (PR:L), no user interaction (UI:N), and impacts confidentiality and integrity to a limited extent (C:L/I:L/A:N). Although no exploits are currently known in the wild, the vulnerability could allow malicious or compromised applications to access user data or system features that should be protected by privacy settings, potentially leading to unauthorized data disclosure or manipulation. The fix involves enhancing sandbox restrictions to ensure proper enforcement of privacy preferences and authorization checks.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a risk primarily to confidentiality and integrity of sensitive data on macOS devices. Organizations relying on Apple hardware and software for handling personal data, intellectual property, or regulated information could face unauthorized data access or leakage if vulnerable systems are exploited. The lack of requirement for user interaction increases the risk of stealthy exploitation by malicious local applications or insiders. While availability is not impacted, the breach of privacy controls could lead to compliance violations under GDPR and other data protection regulations, resulting in legal and reputational consequences. Sectors such as finance, healthcare, government, and technology firms using macOS extensively are particularly vulnerable. The medium severity rating suggests that while the risk is not critical, it is significant enough to warrant prompt remediation to prevent potential exploitation.

European organizations should immediately deploy the Apple security updates macOS Ventura 13.7.3, Sequoia 15.3, and Sonoma 14.7.3 to remediate this vulnerability. Beyond patching, organizations should enforce strict application whitelisting and limit installation of apps to those from trusted sources, such as the Apple App Store or verified enterprise distributions. Implement endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions capable of monitoring for anomalous app behavior that might indicate attempts to bypass privacy controls. Regularly audit privacy preference settings and sandbox configurations to ensure they have not been altered or weakened. Educate users about the risks of installing untrusted software and maintain strict access controls to prevent privilege escalation. For high-risk environments, consider deploying macOS security features like System Integrity Protection (SIP) and Endpoint Security Framework to enhance protection against unauthorized access. Finally, maintain an inventory of macOS devices and ensure they are promptly updated as part of the organization's patch management process.