CVE-2025-43206 is a vulnerability identified in Apple macOS related to improper handling of directory paths due to insufficient path validation, classified under CWE-22 (Path Traversal). This flaw allows a malicious or compromised application running locally on the system to potentially access protected user data that should otherwise be restricted. The vulnerability stems from a parsing issue where directory paths are not correctly validated, enabling an app to traverse directories and access files outside its intended sandbox or permission boundaries. Apple addressed this issue in macOS Sequoia 15.6, Ventura 13.7.7, and Sonoma 14.7.7 by improving path validation mechanisms to prevent unauthorized directory traversal. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 4.0, indicating medium severity, with the vector AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:N/A:N. This means the attack requires local access (AV:L), low attack complexity (AC:L), no privileges (PR:N), and no user interaction (UI:N). The impact is limited to confidentiality (C:L) with no integrity or availability impact. No known exploits have been reported in the wild, suggesting limited active exploitation at this time. The vulnerability affects unspecified versions prior to the fixed releases, implying that all unpatched macOS systems before these versions are vulnerable. Since exploitation requires local access, remote attacks are unlikely without prior system compromise. The vulnerability poses a risk primarily to users and organizations that allow installation or execution of untrusted applications locally on macOS devices. The flaw could be leveraged by malicious insiders or malware to access sensitive user data, potentially leading to privacy breaches or data leakage. The fix involves updating to the patched macOS versions where improved path validation prevents directory traversal. Organizations should prioritize patching and review application installation policies to minimize risk.

For European organizations, the primary impact of CVE-2025-43206 lies in the potential unauthorized disclosure of protected user data on macOS devices. Confidentiality of sensitive information such as personal files, credentials, or corporate data could be compromised if a malicious app exploits this vulnerability. Since exploitation requires local access without authentication or user interaction, the threat vector is mainly from insider threats, compromised endpoints, or malware that gains local execution capabilities. This could lead to privacy violations, intellectual property theft, or compliance issues under GDPR and other data protection regulations. The vulnerability does not affect system integrity or availability, so operational disruption is unlikely. However, organizations with a significant macOS user base, especially in sectors like finance, legal, healthcare, and government, where sensitive data is handled, may face increased risk. The absence of known exploits in the wild reduces immediate threat but does not eliminate the risk of future exploitation. Failure to patch could expose organizations to targeted attacks aiming to extract confidential data from macOS endpoints. Overall, the impact is moderate but relevant for organizations relying on Apple hardware and software in Europe.

1. Apply patches immediately by upgrading all macOS systems to Sequoia 15.6, Ventura 13.7.7, or Sonoma 14.7.7 or later versions where the vulnerability is fixed. 2. Enforce strict application control policies to prevent installation or execution of untrusted or unsigned applications on macOS devices, reducing the risk of local exploitation. 3. Implement endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions capable of monitoring suspicious local file access or directory traversal behaviors indicative of exploitation attempts. 4. Limit user privileges on macOS systems to the minimum necessary, avoiding granting administrative rights to standard users to reduce the attack surface. 5. Conduct regular audits of installed applications and running processes on macOS endpoints to detect unauthorized or potentially malicious software. 6. Educate users about the risks of installing unverified applications and the importance of reporting suspicious activity. 7. Employ macOS built-in security features such as System Integrity Protection (SIP) and sandboxing to contain application capabilities. 8. Monitor security advisories from Apple for any updates or new information regarding this vulnerability or related threats. 9. For high-security environments, consider network segmentation to isolate macOS devices handling sensitive data. 10. Maintain comprehensive backups of critical data to mitigate potential data loss from other attack vectors.