CVE-2025-31270 is a medium-severity vulnerability affecting Apple macOS, specifically related to a permissions issue that could allow an application to access protected user data without proper authorization. The vulnerability stems from insufficient access control (CWE-284), where an app may bypass intended restrictions and gain unauthorized read access to sensitive user information. The issue was addressed by Apple with additional restrictions in macOS Tahoe 26, indicating that earlier versions are vulnerable. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 5.5, reflecting a scenario where the attack vector is local (AV:L), attack complexity is low (AC:L), no privileges are required (PR:N), but user interaction is necessary (UI:R). The scope remains unchanged (S:U), and the impact is high on confidentiality (C:H), with no impact on integrity or availability (I:N, A:N). No known exploits are currently reported in the wild, and no specific affected versions are detailed beyond the fix in macOS Tahoe 26. This vulnerability could be exploited by convincing a user to run a malicious app locally, which then accesses protected data that should otherwise be inaccessible due to permission restrictions. The technical root cause is a permissions misconfiguration or flaw in the enforcement of access controls within macOS, allowing unauthorized data exposure.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a risk primarily to confidentiality of sensitive user data on macOS systems. Organizations with employees or systems running vulnerable macOS versions prior to Tahoe 26 could face unauthorized data disclosure if users are tricked into executing malicious applications locally. This could lead to leakage of personal data, intellectual property, or other sensitive information, potentially violating GDPR and other data protection regulations. The impact is heightened in sectors with strict data privacy requirements such as finance, healthcare, and government. Since exploitation requires local access and user interaction, remote attacks are less likely, but insider threats or targeted phishing campaigns could leverage this vulnerability. The absence of known exploits in the wild reduces immediate risk, but the medium severity and high confidentiality impact warrant prompt attention. Organizations relying heavily on macOS devices should consider this vulnerability in their risk assessments and incident response planning.

To mitigate this vulnerability, European organizations should: 1) Prioritize upgrading all macOS devices to macOS Tahoe 26 or later, where the issue is fixed. 2) Implement strict application control policies using Apple’s built-in tools such as Gatekeeper and System Integrity Protection (SIP) to prevent execution of untrusted or unsigned applications. 3) Educate users on the risks of running unknown or suspicious applications, emphasizing the need to avoid executing software from unverified sources. 4) Employ endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions capable of monitoring and alerting on unusual local application behaviors that attempt to access protected data. 5) Regularly audit macOS systems for compliance with security configurations and patch levels. 6) Restrict local user privileges where possible to limit the ability to execute arbitrary applications. 7) Monitor for any emerging exploit reports or indicators of compromise related to this CVE and update defenses accordingly.