CVE-2025-24197 is a logic flaw in Apple macOS that allows an application to bypass intended access controls and read sensitive user data without proper authorization. The vulnerability arises from insufficient validation in the system's access control logic, which an app can exploit to gain unauthorized read access to protected data. The flaw does not require elevated privileges (PR:N) but does require user interaction (UI:R), such as the user launching or interacting with the malicious app. The attack vector is local (AV:L), meaning the attacker must have local access to the device. The vulnerability affects multiple macOS versions prior to Sequoia 15.7, Sonoma 14.8, and Tahoe 26, where Apple has implemented improved checks to resolve the issue. The weakness is categorized under CWE-284 (Improper Access Control), indicating a failure to enforce correct permissions. Although no known exploits are currently reported in the wild, the potential for sensitive data exposure exists, which could include personal information, credentials, or other confidential content stored on the device. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 5.5, reflecting a medium severity level due to the combination of local access, no privileges required, and user interaction needed. The vulnerability impacts confidentiality but does not affect integrity or availability of the system.

The primary impact of CVE-2025-24197 is unauthorized disclosure of sensitive user data on affected macOS devices. This can lead to privacy violations, exposure of personal or corporate confidential information, and potential use of harvested data for further attacks such as phishing or identity theft. Since the vulnerability requires local access and user interaction, the risk is somewhat limited to scenarios where an attacker can convince a user to run a malicious app or has physical or remote access to the device under the user's context. However, in enterprise environments with many macOS endpoints, the vulnerability could be leveraged by insider threats or through social engineering campaigns to compromise sensitive data. The flaw does not allow modification or destruction of data, so integrity and availability impacts are minimal. Organizations relying on macOS for sensitive workloads or handling regulated data should consider this a significant privacy risk until patched. The absence of known exploits in the wild reduces immediate threat but does not eliminate the potential for future exploitation.

To mitigate CVE-2025-24197, organizations and users should promptly update affected macOS systems to versions Sequoia 15.7, Sonoma 14.8, or Tahoe 26 where the vulnerability is fixed. Beyond patching, organizations should implement strict application control policies to limit installation and execution of untrusted or unsigned applications, reducing the risk of malicious apps exploiting this flaw. Employ endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions capable of monitoring unusual app behaviors and access attempts to sensitive data. User awareness training is critical to prevent social engineering attacks that might trick users into running malicious apps. Additionally, enforcing least privilege principles and restricting local user permissions can reduce the attack surface. Regular audits of installed applications and system logs can help detect suspicious activity related to unauthorized data access attempts. For highly sensitive environments, consider deploying data loss prevention (DLP) tools to monitor and block unauthorized data exfiltration.