CVE-2025-43197 is a vulnerability identified in Apple macOS that allows an application to access sensitive user data due to insufficient entitlement checks. Entitlements in macOS are security mechanisms that restrict app capabilities; this flaw means an app lacking proper authorization could bypass these restrictions and read sensitive information. The vulnerability affects multiple recent macOS versions, including Sequoia 15.6, Sonoma 14.7.7, and Ventura 13.7.7, with Apple releasing patches that add additional entitlement verification to close this gap. The CVSS score of 4.0 (medium) indicates that exploitation requires local access (AV:L), low attack complexity (AC:L), no privileges (PR:N), and no user interaction (UI:N), with impact limited to confidentiality (C:L) and no effect on integrity or availability. This suggests an attacker with local access could stealthily extract sensitive data without alerting the user or system. The vulnerability is categorized under CWE-863, which relates to improper authorization. No known exploits have been reported in the wild, but the potential for misuse exists, especially in environments where untrusted or malicious apps might be installed. The lack of required user interaction and privileges increases the risk in scenarios where endpoint security is weak or insider threats exist. The vulnerability underscores the importance of strict entitlement enforcement in macOS to protect user data confidentiality.

For European organizations, this vulnerability primarily threatens the confidentiality of sensitive user data on macOS devices. Organizations with employees using affected macOS versions could face data leakage risks if malicious or compromised applications exploit this flaw. Although the vulnerability does not affect integrity or availability, unauthorized data access can lead to privacy violations, intellectual property theft, or exposure of credentials and personal information. Sectors handling sensitive data—such as finance, healthcare, government, and research institutions—are particularly at risk. The requirement for local access limits remote exploitation but does not eliminate risk from insider threats, compromised endpoints, or social engineering leading to app installation. Unpatched systems in corporate environments could become vectors for lateral movement or data exfiltration. The absence of known exploits reduces immediate threat but does not preclude future attacks. Overall, the vulnerability could undermine trust in macOS security within European enterprises and necessitate urgent remediation to maintain compliance with data protection regulations like GDPR.

1. Immediately apply the security updates released by Apple for macOS Sequoia 15.6, Sonoma 14.7.7, and Ventura 13.7.7 to ensure entitlement checks are enforced. 2. Conduct an inventory of all macOS devices in the organization to identify those running vulnerable versions and prioritize patch deployment. 3. Audit installed applications for legitimacy and remove or quarantine any untrusted or unnecessary apps that could exploit this vulnerability. 4. Implement endpoint protection solutions capable of monitoring app behavior and detecting unauthorized access to sensitive data. 5. Enforce strict application whitelisting policies to prevent installation of unauthorized software. 6. Educate users about the risks of installing unverified applications and encourage reporting of suspicious activity. 7. Regularly review and tighten macOS security configurations, including entitlement and permission settings. 8. Monitor system logs and security alerts for signs of exploitation attempts or unusual data access patterns. 9. Consider network segmentation and access controls to limit the impact of compromised endpoints. 10. Maintain up-to-date backups and incident response plans to quickly recover from potential breaches.