CVE-2025-43220 is a critical security vulnerability affecting Apple iPadOS and related macOS versions (Sequoia 15.6, Sonoma 14.7.7, Ventura 13.7.7). The vulnerability arises from improper validation of symbolic links (symlinks), which can allow a malicious application to bypass normal access controls and gain unauthorized access to protected user data. Symlinks are filesystem objects that point to other files or directories; if an application can manipulate or exploit symlink validation flaws, it may access files outside its intended sandbox or permission boundaries. This vulnerability is classified under CWE-59 (Improper Link Resolution Before File Access), indicating that the system fails to correctly resolve symlinks before accessing files, leading to potential privilege escalation or data leakage. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 9.8, indicating a critical severity with network attack vector, no required privileges or user interaction, and high impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability. The flaw was addressed by Apple through improved symlink validation in iPadOS 17.7.9 and corresponding macOS updates. Although no known exploits are currently reported in the wild, the ease of exploitation and the critical impact make this a significant threat. Attackers could leverage this vulnerability to access sensitive user data, potentially including personal information, credentials, or other protected content, compromising user privacy and security. Given the widespread use of Apple devices, especially in professional and personal environments, this vulnerability poses a substantial risk if unpatched.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2025-43220 could be severe. Many enterprises and government agencies in Europe utilize Apple devices, including iPads and Macs, for daily operations, communications, and data management. Unauthorized access to protected user data could lead to data breaches involving sensitive corporate or personal information, violating GDPR and other data protection regulations, which could result in heavy fines and reputational damage. The vulnerability's ability to compromise confidentiality, integrity, and availability means attackers could not only steal data but also manipulate or delete it, disrupting business continuity. Additionally, sectors such as finance, healthcare, and public administration, which heavily rely on secure data handling, could face increased risks. The lack of required privileges or user interaction lowers the barrier for attackers, increasing the likelihood of exploitation in targeted or opportunistic attacks. The critical severity and network attack vector imply that remote exploitation is possible, raising concerns for organizations with remote or hybrid workforces using vulnerable Apple devices.

European organizations should prioritize immediate patching of all affected Apple devices by upgrading to iPadOS 17.7.9 or later and the corresponding macOS versions (Sequoia 15.6, Sonoma 14.7.7, Ventura 13.7.7). Beyond patching, organizations should implement strict application control policies to limit installation of untrusted or unnecessary apps, reducing the attack surface. Employ Mobile Device Management (MDM) solutions to enforce security configurations and monitor device compliance. Conduct regular audits of installed applications and permissions to detect anomalous behavior. Network segmentation can help contain potential breaches by isolating vulnerable devices from critical systems. Additionally, organizations should educate users about the importance of timely updates and the risks of installing apps from unverified sources. Incident response plans should be updated to include detection and remediation steps for potential exploitation of symlink vulnerabilities. Monitoring for unusual file access patterns or privilege escalations on Apple devices can provide early warning signs of exploitation attempts.