CVE-2025-43204 is a high-severity vulnerability affecting Apple macOS, specifically allowing an application to potentially break out of its sandbox environment. The sandbox is a critical security mechanism designed to isolate applications and restrict their access to system resources and user data, thereby limiting the impact of malicious or compromised apps. This vulnerability stems from improper access control (CWE-284), which could enable an app to escalate its privileges beyond the sandbox restrictions. The vulnerability requires local access (Attack Vector: Local) and low attack complexity, meaning an attacker with local access and minimal technical hurdles could exploit it. Although user interaction is required, no privileges are needed initially, making it easier for a malicious app to exploit this flaw. The impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability is high, as the exploit could allow unauthorized access to sensitive data, modification of system files, or disruption of system operations. The issue was addressed by Apple removing the vulnerable code and is fixed in macOS Tahoe 26. No known exploits are currently reported in the wild, but the severity and nature of the vulnerability warrant prompt attention and patching.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a significant risk, especially for enterprises and institutions relying on macOS devices for sensitive operations. Successful exploitation could lead to unauthorized data access, leakage of confidential information, and potential disruption of critical services. Organizations in sectors such as finance, healthcare, government, and technology, which often use macOS systems, could face severe operational and reputational damage. The ability to break out of the sandbox could also facilitate further lateral movement within networks, increasing the risk of broader compromise. Given the high confidentiality, integrity, and availability impacts, the vulnerability could undermine compliance with stringent European data protection regulations such as GDPR, potentially resulting in legal and financial penalties.

European organizations should prioritize upgrading all macOS devices to version Tahoe 26 or later, where the vulnerability is patched. Until full deployment, implement strict application whitelisting and monitoring to detect and prevent execution of untrusted or suspicious applications. Employ endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions capable of identifying anomalous behavior indicative of sandbox escape attempts. Restrict local user privileges to the minimum necessary to reduce the risk of exploitation. Conduct regular security awareness training emphasizing the risks of installing unverified software and the importance of prompt updates. Additionally, organizations should audit and monitor macOS systems for unusual access patterns or privilege escalations. Network segmentation can limit the impact of a compromised device. Finally, maintain an up-to-date inventory of macOS assets to ensure comprehensive patch management.