CVE-2025-43192 is a critical vulnerability affecting Apple macOS, specifically related to the Account-driven User Enrollment feature when Lockdown Mode is enabled. Lockdown Mode is a security feature designed to restrict certain functionalities and reduce the attack surface on macOS devices. However, this vulnerability allows Account-driven User Enrollment to still be possible despite Lockdown Mode being active, indicating a configuration or enforcement flaw. User Enrollment is a mechanism that enables users to enroll their devices into management systems, typically used in enterprise or organizational environments for device management and security policy enforcement. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-284 (Improper Access Control), suggesting that the system fails to adequately restrict or enforce access controls under Lockdown Mode. The CVSS v3.1 score of 9.8 (critical) reflects the high severity, with an attack vector of network (AV:N), low attack complexity (AC:L), no privileges required (PR:N), no user interaction (UI:N), and impacts confidentiality, integrity, and availability at a high level (C:H/I:H/A:H). This means an unauthenticated attacker can remotely exploit this vulnerability without user interaction, potentially enrolling devices or accounts in a manner that bypasses intended security restrictions. The issue was addressed with additional restrictions in macOS Sequoia 15.6 and macOS Sonoma 14.7.7, but affected versions prior to these updates remain vulnerable. No known exploits are currently reported in the wild, but the critical nature and ease of exploitation make this a significant threat. The lack of specified affected versions suggests that the vulnerability may impact a broad range of macOS versions prior to the patches. This vulnerability undermines the security guarantees of Lockdown Mode, potentially allowing attackers to bypass device enrollment restrictions, which could lead to unauthorized device management, data exfiltration, or persistent access within targeted environments.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a serious risk, especially for enterprises and government agencies that rely on macOS devices with Lockdown Mode enabled to secure endpoints. Successful exploitation could allow attackers to enroll devices under their control into organizational management systems, bypassing security policies and controls. This could lead to unauthorized access to sensitive corporate or governmental data, manipulation of device configurations, installation of malicious profiles or software, and potential lateral movement within networks. The high impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability means that data breaches, espionage, or disruption of critical services are plausible outcomes. Organizations in sectors such as finance, healthcare, defense, and critical infrastructure, which often use macOS devices and enforce strict security policies, are particularly at risk. The vulnerability also complicates compliance with European data protection regulations like GDPR, as unauthorized enrollment and access could lead to data leakage or misuse. Given the ease of exploitation and lack of required privileges or user interaction, attackers could automate attacks at scale, increasing the threat surface for European enterprises.

European organizations should immediately verify that all macOS devices are updated to at least macOS Sequoia 15.6 or macOS Sonoma 14.7.7, where the vulnerability is fixed. Device management teams should audit current enrollment policies and Lockdown Mode configurations to ensure no devices remain vulnerable. It is advisable to implement network-level controls that restrict enrollment traffic to trusted management servers and monitor for anomalous enrollment attempts. Organizations should also enhance logging and alerting on device enrollment events to detect unauthorized or suspicious activity promptly. For environments where immediate patching is not feasible, temporarily disabling Account-driven User Enrollment or Lockdown Mode may be considered, balancing security and operational needs. Additionally, organizations should review and tighten access controls on device management platforms to prevent unauthorized enrollment or configuration changes. Employee training on recognizing unusual device behavior and reporting potential security incidents can further reduce risk. Collaboration with Apple support and staying informed about any emerging exploit reports or additional patches is essential for ongoing security.