CVE-2025-43190 is a vulnerability identified in Apple’s macOS and related operating systems, including watchOS, iOS, iPadOS, and visionOS. The root cause is a parsing issue in the handling of directory paths, specifically an improper limitation of pathname to a restricted directory (CWE-22). This flaw allows a malicious or compromised application to bypass normal path validation controls and access sensitive user data that should otherwise be protected. The vulnerability requires local access and user interaction, meaning an attacker must convince a user to run a malicious app or code. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 5.5 (medium severity), reflecting that the attack vector is local (AV:L), with low attack complexity (AC:L), no privileges required (PR:N), but user interaction is necessary (UI:R). The impact is high on confidentiality (C:H) but does not affect integrity (I:N) or availability (A:N). Apple has released patches in the latest versions of their operating systems (watchOS 26, macOS Sonoma 14.8, macOS Sequoia 15.7, iOS 26, iPadOS 26, and visionOS 26) to improve path validation and prevent exploitation. No public exploits or active exploitation in the wild have been reported to date. This vulnerability is significant because it could allow unauthorized apps to access sensitive user data, potentially leading to privacy breaches or data leakage. Organizations relying on Apple devices should ensure timely patching and consider additional controls to limit app installation and execution privileges.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a risk of unauthorized access to sensitive user data on Apple devices, which could include personal information, credentials, or corporate data stored locally. The confidentiality breach could lead to privacy violations, regulatory non-compliance (e.g., GDPR), and potential reputational damage. Since the vulnerability does not affect system integrity or availability, it is less likely to cause operational disruption but could facilitate further attacks if sensitive data is exfiltrated. Organizations with a high density of Apple device usage, such as enterprises in finance, healthcare, and technology sectors, are particularly at risk. The requirement for local access and user interaction limits remote exploitation but does not eliminate insider threats or risks from social engineering attacks. Given the widespread use of Apple products in Europe, unpatched systems could be targeted by attackers aiming to harvest sensitive data or gain footholds for lateral movement within networks.

1. Deploy the latest Apple OS updates immediately on all affected devices, including macOS Sonoma 14.8, macOS Sequoia 15.7, iOS 26, iPadOS 26, watchOS 26, and visionOS 26. 2. Enforce strict application installation policies, limiting installations to trusted sources such as the Apple App Store and using Mobile Device Management (MDM) solutions to control app permissions. 3. Educate users about the risks of running untrusted applications and the importance of avoiding suspicious links or downloads that could lead to malicious app execution. 4. Implement endpoint detection and response (EDR) tools capable of monitoring unusual file system access patterns or unauthorized attempts to access sensitive directories. 5. Regularly audit installed applications and their permissions to identify and remove potentially risky or unnecessary software. 6. Use Apple’s built-in privacy and security features, such as System Integrity Protection (SIP) and sandboxing, to limit app capabilities. 7. For organizations with sensitive data, consider additional encryption of local data stores to reduce the impact of unauthorized access. 8. Monitor security advisories from Apple and threat intelligence sources for any emerging exploit activity related to this vulnerability.