CVE-2025-24240 is a race condition vulnerability identified in Apple macOS that allows a local application to potentially access user-sensitive data. The root cause is a race condition where insufficient validation permits an app to read data it should not access, classified under CWE-362 (Race Condition). The vulnerability does not affect system integrity or availability but compromises confidentiality by exposing sensitive user information. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 4.7 (medium), reflecting that exploitation requires local access (AV:L), high attack complexity (AC:H), no privileges (PR:N), and user interaction (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). The issue was addressed by Apple through additional validation checks and fixed in macOS Ventura 13.7.5, Sequoia 15.4, and Sonoma 14.7.5. No public exploits or active exploitation have been reported. The vulnerability primarily threatens environments where untrusted or malicious apps could be installed locally, potentially exposing sensitive user data such as credentials, personal files, or other confidential information. Given the complexity and requirement for user interaction, widespread exploitation is less likely but remains a concern for high-value targets or environments with lax application controls.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a risk of unauthorized disclosure of sensitive user data on macOS systems. Sectors such as finance, healthcare, legal, and government, which often handle confidential information, could face data breaches leading to regulatory penalties under GDPR and reputational damage. The requirement for local access and user interaction limits remote exploitation but does not eliminate insider threats or risks from social engineering attacks that trick users into running malicious apps. Organizations relying on macOS endpoints must consider the potential for data leakage, especially in hybrid work environments where endpoint security may vary. While the vulnerability does not affect system integrity or availability, the confidentiality breach could facilitate further attacks or espionage. The absence of known exploits reduces immediate risk but does not preclude future weaponization.

1. Apply the latest macOS updates immediately, specifically versions Ventura 13.7.5, Sequoia 15.4, and Sonoma 14.7.5 or later, to ensure the vulnerability is patched. 2. Enforce strict application control policies using Apple’s built-in tools such as Gatekeeper and System Integrity Protection to limit installation of untrusted or unsigned apps. 3. Educate users on the risks of installing unknown applications and the importance of avoiding suspicious links or downloads that require user interaction. 4. Implement endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions capable of monitoring and alerting on unusual local app behaviors that may indicate exploitation attempts. 5. Regularly audit local user privileges and restrict administrative rights to reduce the risk of malicious app installation. 6. Use data loss prevention (DLP) tools to monitor sensitive data access and exfiltration attempts on macOS devices. 7. Maintain robust backup and recovery procedures to mitigate potential indirect impacts from data exposure incidents.