CVE-2025-43233 is a critical security vulnerability identified in Apple macOS that allows a malicious application acting as an HTTPS proxy to gain unauthorized access to sensitive user data. The root cause of this vulnerability is insufficient access restrictions on proxy functionalities within the operating system, which enables an attacker to intercept, decrypt, and potentially manipulate HTTPS traffic without requiring any privileges or user interaction. This vulnerability affects multiple macOS versions prior to the patched releases: Sequoia 15.6, Sonoma 14.7.7, and Ventura 13.7.7. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-284, indicating improper access control. The CVSS v3.1 base score of 9.8 reflects the vulnerability's critical nature, with an attack vector of network (AV:N), low attack complexity (AC:L), no privileges required (PR:N), no user interaction (UI:N), unchanged scope (S:U), and high impact on confidentiality (C:H), integrity (I:H), and availability (A:H). This means an attacker can remotely exploit the vulnerability without any authentication or user action, potentially compromising all three security properties. Although no known exploits have been reported in the wild yet, the vulnerability's characteristics make it a prime target for attackers aiming to conduct espionage, data theft, or disruption of services. The vulnerability highlights the risks associated with proxy-based interception of encrypted traffic and the importance of strict access controls in operating system network components.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2025-43233 is significant due to the potential exposure of sensitive user and organizational data through intercepted HTTPS traffic. Confidentiality breaches could lead to intellectual property theft, exposure of personal data protected under GDPR, and compromise of secure communications. Integrity of data could be undermined if attackers manipulate intercepted traffic, leading to misinformation or unauthorized transactions. Availability could also be affected if attackers disrupt proxy services or related network components. Sectors such as finance, healthcare, government, and technology are particularly vulnerable given their reliance on macOS devices and the critical nature of their data. The vulnerability could facilitate advanced persistent threats (APTs) and espionage campaigns targeting European entities. Additionally, the breach of encrypted communications undermines trust in secure channels, potentially impacting compliance and regulatory standing. The widespread use of macOS in certain European countries increases the risk of large-scale exploitation if patches are not promptly applied.

1. Immediate deployment of the security patches released by Apple in macOS Sequoia 15.6, Sonoma 14.7.7, and Ventura 13.7.7 is essential to remediate the vulnerability. 2. Restrict installation of applications to trusted sources, such as the Apple App Store or verified enterprise app stores, to reduce the risk of malicious proxy apps. 3. Implement strict network monitoring to detect unusual proxy configurations or traffic patterns indicative of interception attempts. 4. Enforce endpoint security policies that limit the ability of applications to register as system proxies without explicit administrative approval. 5. Educate users and administrators about the risks of installing untrusted software and the importance of applying updates promptly. 6. Utilize network-level security controls such as TLS inspection with proper certificate validation to detect and block unauthorized proxying. 7. Conduct regular audits of installed applications and network settings to identify and remove unauthorized proxy configurations. 8. Employ endpoint detection and response (EDR) tools capable of identifying suspicious proxy-related behaviors. These measures, combined with patching, will significantly reduce the risk posed by this vulnerability.