CVE-2025-24263 is a critical vulnerability in Apple macOS identified as a privacy issue where sensitive user data was stored in an unprotected location accessible by any application without requiring privileges or user interaction. This flaw allows malicious or unauthorized applications to observe and potentially exfiltrate sensitive user information, violating confidentiality and potentially impacting integrity and availability if leveraged further. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-200 (Exposure of Sensitive Information to an Unauthorized Actor). Apple addressed this issue in macOS Sequoia 15.4 by relocating the sensitive data to a protected storage area, thereby restricting access to authorized processes only. The vulnerability has a CVSS 3.1 base score of 9.8, indicating critical severity with network attack vector, low attack complexity, no privileges required, no user interaction, and high impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability. While no active exploits have been reported, the ease of exploitation and the critical nature of the data exposure make this a high-priority security concern. The vulnerability affects unspecified versions prior to the patch release, implying that all macOS users not updated to Sequoia 15.4 or later remain vulnerable.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a significant risk to the confidentiality of sensitive user data, including potentially personal, corporate, or regulatory-protected information. The exposure could lead to data breaches, loss of customer trust, regulatory penalties under GDPR, and potential lateral movement by attackers within corporate networks. The integrity and availability of systems could also be compromised if attackers leverage the data exposure to escalate privileges or deploy further malware. Organizations relying on macOS devices for critical operations, especially in sectors like finance, healthcare, and government, face heightened risks. The vulnerability's network attack vector and lack of required privileges mean that even remote or low-privilege attackers could exploit it, increasing the threat surface. Given the criticality and potential for widespread impact, European entities must prioritize patching and monitoring to prevent data leakage and subsequent attacks.

1. Immediately update all macOS devices to version Sequoia 15.4 or later, where the vulnerability is patched. 2. Implement strict application whitelisting and endpoint protection to prevent unauthorized or suspicious apps from running. 3. Employ data loss prevention (DLP) solutions to monitor and block unauthorized access or exfiltration of sensitive data. 4. Conduct regular audits of macOS systems to identify outdated versions and ensure compliance with patch management policies. 5. Educate users and IT staff about the risks of running untrusted applications and the importance of timely updates. 6. Utilize macOS security features such as System Integrity Protection (SIP) and sandboxing to limit app capabilities. 7. Monitor network traffic for unusual data flows that could indicate exploitation attempts. 8. Coordinate with Apple support and security advisories for any additional mitigations or updates.