CVE-2025-24138 is a vulnerability identified in Apple macOS that allows a malicious application to leak sensitive user information due to improper state management within the operating system. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-200, indicating an information exposure issue. It affects multiple macOS versions prior to the patched releases: macOS Sequoia 15.3, macOS Sonoma 14.7.3, and macOS Ventura 13.7.3. The vulnerability requires local access (AV:L) and low attack complexity (AC:L), with no privileges required (PR:N), but user interaction (UI:R) is necessary to trigger the leak. The scope is unchanged (S:U), meaning the impact is confined to the vulnerable component. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 5.5, reflecting a medium severity primarily due to the high confidentiality impact (C:H) but no impact on integrity (I:N) or availability (A:N). The flaw was addressed by Apple through improved state management to prevent unauthorized data exposure. There are no known exploits in the wild at the time of publication, but the vulnerability poses a risk of sensitive data leakage if exploited. The vulnerability is significant in environments where sensitive user information is stored or processed on macOS devices, especially in enterprise and government contexts. The patch should be applied promptly to mitigate the risk.

The primary impact of CVE-2025-24138 is the unauthorized disclosure of sensitive user information, which can lead to privacy violations, identity theft, or further targeted attacks such as social engineering or credential harvesting. Since the vulnerability does not affect system integrity or availability, it does not directly enable system compromise or denial of service. However, the leakage of sensitive data can undermine trust in affected systems and may expose organizations to regulatory penalties, especially those subject to data protection laws like GDPR or HIPAA. The requirement for local access and user interaction limits the attack surface but does not eliminate risk, particularly in environments where users may inadvertently execute malicious applications or where insider threats exist. Organizations relying heavily on macOS devices for critical operations or handling sensitive data are at increased risk. The absence of known exploits in the wild reduces immediate threat but does not preclude future exploitation attempts.

To mitigate CVE-2025-24138, organizations should prioritize updating all affected macOS systems to the fixed versions: macOS Sequoia 15.3, macOS Sonoma 14.7.3, or macOS Ventura 13.7.3. Beyond patching, implement strict application control policies to prevent execution of unauthorized or untrusted applications, including the use of Apple’s Gatekeeper and notarization features. Educate users about the risks of running unverified software and the importance of cautious interaction with application prompts. Employ endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions to monitor for suspicious local activity indicative of exploitation attempts. Limit local user privileges where feasible to reduce the likelihood of malicious applications running without oversight. Regularly audit installed applications and remove unnecessary software to minimize attack vectors. Additionally, enforce network segmentation and data encryption to protect sensitive information even if leaked locally. Maintain up-to-date backups and incident response plans to address potential data exposure incidents swiftly.