CVE-2025-31261 is a medium-severity vulnerability affecting Apple macOS operating systems, specifically versions prior to macOS Ventura 13.7.5, macOS Sequoia 15.4, and macOS Sonoma 14.7.5. The vulnerability arises from a permissions issue related to sandbox restrictions, which are mechanisms designed to isolate applications and limit their access to system resources and user data. Due to insufficient sandbox enforcement, a malicious or compromised application could potentially bypass these restrictions and gain unauthorized access to protected user data. This flaw is classified under CWE-276 (Incorrect Default Permissions), indicating that the problem stems from improper permission settings that allow access beyond intended boundaries. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 5.5, reflecting a medium severity level. The vector string (AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N) indicates that exploitation requires local access (AV:L), low attack complexity (AC:L), no privileges (PR:N), but user interaction (UI:R), and results in a high impact on confidentiality (C:H) without affecting integrity or availability. No known exploits are currently reported in the wild, and Apple has addressed the issue by implementing additional sandbox restrictions in the specified patched versions. This vulnerability primarily threatens confidentiality by exposing sensitive user data to unauthorized applications, potentially leading to privacy breaches or leakage of sensitive information stored on the device.

For European organizations, the impact of this vulnerability can be significant, especially for entities handling sensitive or regulated data on macOS devices. Confidentiality breaches could lead to exposure of personal data protected under GDPR, resulting in legal and financial repercussions. Organizations in sectors such as finance, healthcare, legal services, and government agencies that rely on macOS systems for daily operations may face increased risk of data leakage. Although exploitation requires local access and user interaction, insider threats or social engineering attacks could facilitate exploitation. The vulnerability does not affect system integrity or availability, so operational disruption is unlikely. However, unauthorized data access could undermine trust, damage reputation, and trigger compliance investigations. The lack of known exploits in the wild suggests a window of opportunity for organizations to patch systems proactively before active attacks emerge.

European organizations should prioritize updating all macOS devices to the patched versions: Ventura 13.7.5, Sequoia 15.4, or Sonoma 14.7.5. Beyond patching, organizations should enforce strict application control policies to limit installation of untrusted or unnecessary software, reducing the risk of malicious apps exploiting this vulnerability. Employ endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions capable of monitoring unusual application behaviors and sandbox escape attempts. User training is critical to mitigate the risk of social engineering that could lead to local exploitation, emphasizing caution when granting permissions or interacting with unknown applications. Additionally, implement strict access controls and device management policies to restrict local access to authorized personnel only. Regular audits of macOS security configurations and sandbox policies can help ensure that permissions are correctly set and maintained. Finally, maintain up-to-date backups and incident response plans to quickly address any potential data breaches.