CVE-2025-43197 is a medium-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 insufficient entitlement checks within the macOS security framework, which could allow a malicious or compromised application to access sensitive user data without proper authorization. Entitlements in macOS are used to restrict app capabilities and access to system resources; failure to enforce these checks properly can lead to unauthorized data exposure. This vulnerability is categorized under CWE-863, which relates to improper authorization. The CVSS 3.1 base score is 4.0, indicating a medium severity level. The vector string (AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:N/A:N) shows that exploitation requires local access (AV:L), has low attack complexity (AC:L), does not require privileges (PR:N) or user interaction (UI:N), and impacts confidentiality only (C:L) without affecting integrity or availability. No known exploits are currently reported in the wild. The issue was addressed by Apple through enhanced entitlement checks in the specified macOS versions, mitigating unauthorized access to sensitive user data by applications.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a risk primarily to confidentiality of sensitive user data on macOS devices. Organizations with a significant deployment of Apple hardware, such as creative industries, software development firms, and enterprises using macOS for endpoint computing, could be affected. Unauthorized access to sensitive data could lead to data breaches, regulatory non-compliance (e.g., GDPR violations), and erosion of user trust. Although the vulnerability requires local access, it could be exploited by malicious insiders or through social engineering to install a malicious app. The lack of requirement for user interaction increases the risk that an app could silently access data once installed. However, the medium severity and local access requirement limit the scope compared to remote exploits. Still, the impact on confidentiality is significant enough to warrant prompt patching to prevent potential data leakage and compliance issues.

European organizations should prioritize updating all macOS devices to the fixed versions: macOS Sequoia 15.6, macOS Sonoma 14.7.7, or macOS Ventura 13.7.7. Beyond patching, organizations should implement strict application control policies using Apple’s Endpoint Security framework or Mobile Device Management (MDM) solutions to restrict installation of unauthorized or untrusted applications. Employing least privilege principles and restricting local user permissions can reduce the risk of exploitation. Regular audits of installed applications and monitoring for anomalous app behavior can help detect attempts to exploit this vulnerability. Additionally, educating users about the risks of installing untrusted software and enforcing strong endpoint security policies will further mitigate risk. For highly sensitive environments, consider using macOS’s built-in privacy controls to limit app access to sensitive data and leveraging Apple’s notarization and app review processes to ensure app integrity.