CVE-2025-43252 is a vulnerability in Apple macOS related to the handling of symbolic links (symlinks) when accessed via web content. Specifically, a malicious website can exploit the way macOS resolves symlinks to access sensitive user data that should otherwise be protected. This occurs because the system did not require explicit user consent before resolving symlinks, allowing unauthorized access to files pointed to by these links. The vulnerability falls under CWE-59 (Improper Link Resolution Before File Access), indicating a failure to properly validate or restrict symlink resolution. Apple mitigated this issue in macOS Sequoia 15.6 by adding an additional prompt that requires explicit user consent before a website can resolve symlinks, thereby preventing silent unauthorized data access. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 6.5, reflecting a network attack vector with low attack complexity, no privileges required, but user interaction necessary to approve the prompt. The impact is high on confidentiality since sensitive data can be exposed, but there is no impact on integrity or availability. There are no known exploits in the wild at the time of publication, and affected versions are unspecified but presumably all versions prior to macOS Sequoia 15.6. This vulnerability is significant because it enables data leakage through a common web attack vector, leveraging user interaction and OS file system behaviors.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a risk of unauthorized disclosure of sensitive data stored on macOS devices. Since many enterprises and professionals in Europe use Apple hardware and macOS for daily operations, especially in sectors like finance, legal, healthcare, and technology, the exposure of confidential files through malicious websites could lead to data breaches, regulatory non-compliance (e.g., GDPR violations), and reputational damage. The requirement for user interaction reduces the likelihood of automated mass exploitation but does not eliminate targeted attacks, such as spear-phishing campaigns that trick users into approving the prompt. The confidentiality impact is significant because attackers could access personal information, intellectual property, or credentials stored in symlinked locations. However, the lack of impact on integrity and availability means the threat is primarily data leakage rather than system disruption. Organizations relying heavily on macOS systems should consider this vulnerability in their risk assessments and incident response planning.

The primary mitigation is to update all macOS systems to version Sequoia 15.6 or later, where the vulnerability is patched by requiring explicit user consent for symlink resolution initiated by websites. Organizations should enforce patch management policies to ensure timely deployment of this update. Additionally, user education is critical: users must be trained to recognize and carefully evaluate consent prompts related to file access, especially when browsing untrusted websites. Implementing web filtering and endpoint security solutions that block or warn against access to suspicious websites can reduce exposure. Network-level protections such as DNS filtering and intrusion prevention systems can help detect and block malicious web content attempting to exploit this vulnerability. For sensitive environments, restricting the use of macOS devices or limiting web browsing capabilities may be warranted until patches are applied. Monitoring for unusual file access patterns or user approvals related to symlink resolution can also aid in early detection of exploitation attempts.