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 (Exposure of Sensitive Information to an Unauthorized Actor). It affects unspecified versions of macOS prior to the patched releases: Ventura 13.7.3, Sequoia 15.3, and Sonoma 14.7.3. The CVSS v3.1 score is 5.5 (medium), reflecting that the attack vector is local (AV:L), with low attack complexity (AC:L), no privileges required (PR:N), but user interaction is necessary (UI:R). The scope is unchanged (S:U), and the impact is high on confidentiality (C:H), with no impact on integrity (I:N) or availability (A:N). This means that an attacker must have local access and trick a user into interacting with a malicious application to exploit the vulnerability and gain access to sensitive information that should otherwise be protected. The flaw was addressed by Apple through improved state management in the affected macOS versions, indicating that the vulnerability likely involved improper handling of application or system states that allowed unauthorized data exposure. There are no known exploits in the wild at the time of publication, but the presence of this vulnerability could be leveraged by attackers targeting macOS users to extract confidential data. Given the nature of the vulnerability, it primarily threatens confidentiality without affecting system integrity or availability.

For European organizations, the primary impact of CVE-2025-24138 is the potential leakage of sensitive user information from macOS devices. This could include personal data, credentials, or other confidential information stored or processed on affected systems. Organizations in sectors such as finance, healthcare, government, and technology that rely on macOS endpoints for daily operations may face increased risks of data breaches or espionage. The requirement for local access and user interaction limits remote exploitation but does not eliminate insider threats or attacks involving social engineering. Data leakage could lead to regulatory non-compliance under GDPR, resulting in financial penalties and reputational damage. Additionally, leaked information could be used to facilitate further attacks, such as phishing or lateral movement within networks. The absence of impact on integrity and availability means operational disruption is unlikely, but confidentiality breaches alone can have severe consequences in sensitive environments.

European organizations should prioritize the following specific mitigation steps: 1) Deploy the latest macOS updates immediately, specifically versions Ventura 13.7.3, Sequoia 15.3, and Sonoma 14.7.3 or later, to ensure the vulnerability is patched. 2) Implement strict application control policies to prevent installation or execution of untrusted or unsigned applications, reducing the risk of malicious apps exploiting this vulnerability. 3) Educate users about the risks of interacting with unknown or suspicious applications, emphasizing cautious behavior to mitigate the user interaction requirement. 4) Employ endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions capable of monitoring for unusual local application behaviors indicative of exploitation attempts. 5) Restrict local access to macOS devices, especially in sensitive environments, through physical security and access management controls. 6) Conduct regular audits of installed applications and system logs to detect any signs of compromise or exploitation. 7) Integrate vulnerability management processes that include timely patching of Apple devices and continuous monitoring for emerging threats related to macOS.