CVE-2025-31248 is a vulnerability identified in Apple macOS that arises from a parsing issue in the handling of directory paths, specifically related to insufficient path validation. This flaw is categorized under CWE-22 (Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory), which typically allows an attacker to perform directory traversal or access files outside intended directories. In this case, an application running on macOS with limited privileges (local access with low user rights) can exploit this weakness to access sensitive user data that should otherwise be protected. The vulnerability does not require user interaction, increasing the risk of silent data exposure. The affected macOS versions are those prior to the patched releases: Ventura 13.7.3, Sequoia 15.5, and Sonoma 14.7.3. Apple addressed the issue by improving path validation mechanisms to prevent unauthorized directory access. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 5.5, reflecting a medium severity level, with the vector indicating local attack vector (AV:L), low attack complexity (AC:L), low privileges required (PR:L), no user interaction (UI:N), unchanged scope (S:U), high confidentiality impact (C:H), and no impact on integrity or availability (I:N/A:N). There are no known exploits in the wild at the time of publication, but the vulnerability poses a risk for data confidentiality breaches if exploited. This vulnerability is particularly relevant for environments where sensitive user data is stored on macOS devices and where apps with limited privileges are installed or executed.

For European organizations, the primary impact of CVE-2025-31248 is the potential unauthorized access to sensitive user data on macOS systems. This can lead to confidentiality breaches involving personal, corporate, or intellectual property data. Sectors such as finance, healthcare, legal, and creative industries that rely heavily on macOS devices and handle sensitive information are at higher risk. Although the vulnerability does not affect system integrity or availability, the exposure of confidential data can result in regulatory non-compliance (e.g., GDPR), reputational damage, and potential financial losses. The requirement for local access and low privileges limits remote exploitation but does not eliminate insider threat risks or risks from malware that gains limited local execution. The absence of user interaction makes the vulnerability stealthier and harder to detect during exploitation. Organizations with remote or hybrid workforces using macOS endpoints should be particularly vigilant, as compromised or unpatched devices could be exploited to access sensitive data without alerting users.

To mitigate CVE-2025-31248, European organizations should: 1) Promptly apply the security updates released by Apple for macOS Ventura 13.7.3, Sequoia 15.5, and Sonoma 14.7.3 to ensure the vulnerability is patched. 2) Enforce strict application installation policies, limiting apps to those from trusted sources such as the Apple App Store or enterprise-signed applications to reduce the risk of malicious apps exploiting the flaw. 3) Implement endpoint protection solutions capable of detecting anomalous file system access patterns indicative of exploitation attempts. 4) Use macOS built-in security features such as System Integrity Protection (SIP) and sandboxing to restrict app capabilities and limit access to sensitive directories. 5) Educate users and administrators about the risks of running untrusted applications and the importance of maintaining updated systems. 6) Monitor logs and audit trails for unusual local access to sensitive files or directories, especially from low-privilege processes. 7) For organizations with sensitive data, consider additional data encryption at rest and in transit to mitigate the impact of unauthorized data access. These steps go beyond generic advice by focusing on controlling app sources, leveraging macOS security features, and proactive monitoring tailored to the vulnerability's characteristics.