CVE-2025-24259 is a critical security vulnerability identified in Apple macOS that permits an application to access Safari bookmarks without undergoing the required entitlement checks. Entitlement checks are security mechanisms that restrict app access to sensitive user data or system resources unless explicitly authorized. This vulnerability effectively bypasses these controls, allowing any app to retrieve Safari bookmarks, which may contain sensitive URLs, personal data, or browsing history. The issue was addressed by Apple through additional entitlement checks implemented in macOS Ventura 13.7.5, macOS Sequoia 15.4, and macOS Sonoma 14.7.5. The vulnerability carries a CVSS 3.1 base score of 9.8, reflecting its critical nature. The vector metrics indicate that the attack can be performed remotely (AV:N), requires no privileges (PR:N), no user interaction (UI:N), and impacts confidentiality, integrity, and availability (C:H/I:H/A:H). This means an attacker can exploit the flaw without any prior access or user involvement, potentially leading to full compromise of affected systems. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-862, which relates to improper authorization. No known exploits have been reported in the wild yet, but the high severity and ease of exploitation make it a significant threat. The vulnerability affects unspecified macOS versions prior to the patched releases, implying a broad impact across many Apple devices running macOS. Organizations relying on macOS systems for business operations, especially those handling sensitive or regulated data, are at risk of unauthorized data disclosure and potential further exploitation stemming from this initial access.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a substantial risk to user privacy and data security. Safari bookmarks may contain sensitive URLs, including internal corporate resources, confidential project links, or personal information, which if accessed by malicious apps, could lead to targeted phishing, social engineering, or further compromise of corporate networks. The critical severity and ease of exploitation mean that attackers could deploy malicious apps or leverage supply chain attacks to gain access without user consent or awareness. This could undermine trust in Apple devices within corporate environments and potentially lead to regulatory non-compliance under GDPR due to unauthorized access to personal data. The impact extends beyond confidentiality to integrity and availability, as attackers could manipulate or delete bookmarks or leverage this access as a foothold for broader system compromise. European organizations with macOS endpoints, especially in sectors like finance, government, healthcare, and technology, where sensitive data is prevalent, are particularly vulnerable. The lack of required user interaction and privileges lowers the barrier for exploitation, increasing the likelihood of attacks if patches are not applied promptly.

To mitigate this vulnerability, European organizations should immediately prioritize updating all macOS devices to versions Ventura 13.7.5, Sequoia 15.4, or Sonoma 14.7.5 or later, where the entitlement checks have been enforced. Organizations should enforce strict application whitelisting policies, allowing only trusted and verified apps to be installed, reducing the risk of malicious apps exploiting this flaw. Employ Mobile Device Management (MDM) solutions to monitor and control app installations and permissions on corporate macOS devices. Conduct thorough audits of installed applications to identify any unauthorized or suspicious software that could exploit this vulnerability. Educate users about the risks of installing untrusted applications and encourage reporting of unusual system behavior. Implement network segmentation and endpoint detection and response (EDR) tools to detect anomalous access patterns related to Safari data. Regularly review and update security policies to include swift patch management and vulnerability scanning focused on Apple devices. Finally, consider restricting access to sensitive corporate resources from macOS devices until patches are applied, especially in high-risk environments.