CVE-2025-43196 is a high-severity vulnerability affecting Apple macOS operating systems, specifically versions prior to macOS Sequoia 15.6, macOS Sonoma 14.7.7, and macOS Ventura 13.7.7. The vulnerability arises from a path handling issue, classified under CWE-22 (Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory), which allows an application to potentially escalate its privileges to root level. This means that a malicious or compromised app could exploit the flaw to gain unrestricted administrative access to the system, bypassing normal security controls. The vulnerability does not require user interaction (UI:N) but does require local access (AV:L) and low privileges (PR:L) to exploit, indicating that an attacker must already have some level of access to the system, but not elevated privileges. The vulnerability impacts confidentiality, integrity, and availability, as an attacker with root privileges can access sensitive data, modify system files, install persistent malware, or disrupt system operations. The issue was addressed by Apple through improved validation of path handling, preventing malicious manipulation of file paths that could lead to privilege escalation. No known exploits are currently reported in the wild, but the CVSS score of 7.8 reflects a significant risk if exploited. The vulnerability affects macOS systems broadly, though specific affected versions are not fully enumerated beyond the fixed releases. Organizations running macOS versions prior to the patches are at risk.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2025-43196 can be substantial, especially for those relying on macOS devices for critical business functions, software development, or sensitive data processing. An attacker exploiting this vulnerability could gain root access, leading to full system compromise, data breaches, and potential lateral movement within corporate networks. This could result in intellectual property theft, disruption of services, and regulatory non-compliance, particularly under GDPR where unauthorized access to personal data must be prevented. The vulnerability’s requirement for local access means that attackers might leverage phishing, social engineering, or insider threats to gain initial foothold. Given the widespread use of macOS in sectors such as finance, technology, and creative industries across Europe, the risk extends to both private and public sector organizations. Additionally, the ability to escalate privileges without user interaction increases the risk of stealthy attacks that evade detection. The absence of known exploits in the wild provides a window for proactive mitigation, but the high severity score underscores the urgency of patching vulnerable systems.

European organizations should prioritize the following mitigation steps: 1) Immediate deployment of the security updates provided by Apple for macOS Sequoia 15.6, Sonoma 14.7.7, and Ventura 13.7.7 or later versions to all macOS devices. 2) Implement strict access controls and endpoint security measures to limit local access to trusted users only, reducing the risk of initial exploitation. 3) Employ application whitelisting and monitoring to detect and prevent execution of unauthorized or suspicious applications that could attempt privilege escalation. 4) Conduct regular audits of macOS devices to identify and remediate outdated versions and unauthorized software. 5) Enhance user awareness training focusing on phishing and social engineering tactics that could lead to local access compromise. 6) Utilize endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions capable of identifying abnormal privilege escalation behaviors on macOS. 7) Establish incident response procedures specifically addressing macOS privilege escalation scenarios to enable rapid containment and remediation. These measures, combined with timely patching, will significantly reduce the risk posed by this vulnerability.