CVE-2025-24142 is a privacy vulnerability identified in Apple macOS operating systems, where an application may gain unauthorized access to sensitive user data due to inadequate redaction of private information in system log entries. The flaw stems from the system's logging mechanisms failing to properly sanitize or redact sensitive data before writing to logs, potentially exposing confidential information to any app capable of reading these logs. This vulnerability affects multiple macOS versions prior to the patched releases: Ventura 13.7.6, Sequoia 15.5, and Sonoma 14.7.6. The CVSS 3.1 base score is 5.5 (medium severity), with an attack vector classified as local (AV:L), 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 while the vulnerability does not allow modification or disruption of system operations, it can lead to unauthorized disclosure of sensitive user information. No known exploits are currently reported in the wild, but the vulnerability represents a privacy risk, especially in environments where multiple applications run with user-level access. The issue was addressed by Apple through improved private data redaction techniques in the affected macOS versions, ensuring that sensitive information is no longer exposed in logs accessible by applications.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a significant privacy risk, particularly for sectors handling sensitive personal or corporate data such as finance, healthcare, and government. Unauthorized access to sensitive user data could lead to data breaches, regulatory non-compliance (e.g., GDPR violations), reputational damage, and potential financial penalties. Since exploitation requires local access and user interaction, insider threats or social engineering attacks could leverage this vulnerability to extract confidential information. Organizations relying on macOS devices for critical operations or storing sensitive data locally are at heightened risk. The impact is amplified in environments with shared or less controlled device usage, such as in educational institutions or enterprises with bring-your-own-device (BYOD) policies. Although the vulnerability does not affect system integrity or availability, the confidentiality breach alone can have serious consequences under European data protection frameworks.

European organizations should immediately update all affected macOS devices to the patched versions: Ventura 13.7.6, Sequoia 15.5, or Sonoma 14.7.6. Beyond patching, organizations should enforce strict application permission controls to limit which apps can access system logs or sensitive data. Employ endpoint security solutions that monitor and restrict unauthorized access to log files. Implement user awareness training to reduce the risk of social engineering attacks that could trigger the required user interaction for exploitation. Regularly audit macOS devices for unauthorized or suspicious applications that might attempt to exploit this vulnerability. Consider deploying macOS configuration profiles that restrict logging verbosity or access where feasible. For highly sensitive environments, use device management tools to enforce compliance with security policies and promptly apply security updates. Finally, maintain an incident response plan that includes procedures for handling potential data exposure incidents related to this vulnerability.