CVE-2025-43262 is a medium-severity vulnerability affecting Apple macOS systems, specifically related to the USB Restricted Mode security feature. USB Restricted Mode is designed to limit the functionality of USB accessories when a device is locked or in certain states, thereby reducing the risk of unauthorized data access or malicious device exploitation via USB peripherals. The vulnerability arises from a permissions issue where USB Restricted Mode may not be properly enforced for accessories that are connected during the system boot process. This means that USB devices plugged in at boot time might bypass the intended restrictions, potentially allowing unauthorized access or data exfiltration through USB interfaces before the security controls are fully applied. The issue is addressed by additional restrictions in macOS Tahoe 26, but affected versions prior to this update remain vulnerable. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 5.1, indicating a medium severity level, with the vector indicating local attack vector (AV:L), low attack complexity (AC:L), no privileges required (PR:N), no user interaction (UI:N), unchanged scope (S:U), and low impact on confidentiality and integrity (C:L/I:L), with no impact on availability (A:N). The vulnerability is categorized under CWE-358 (Improperly Implemented Security Check for Standard). There are no known exploits in the wild at this time, and no specific affected macOS versions were detailed beyond the fix being in macOS Tahoe 26.

For European organizations using Apple macOS devices, this vulnerability could allow an attacker with physical access to a device to connect a USB accessory during system boot and bypass USB Restricted Mode protections. This could lead to unauthorized data access or injection of malicious payloads via USB devices before the operating system fully enforces security policies. The impact is primarily on confidentiality and integrity, as attackers might extract sensitive information or manipulate system behavior. While remote exploitation is not feasible due to the local attack vector, the risk remains significant in environments where devices are physically accessible by untrusted individuals, such as shared workspaces, public areas, or during device maintenance. Organizations handling sensitive or regulated data (e.g., financial institutions, healthcare providers, government agencies) could face data breaches or compliance violations if this vulnerability is exploited. The lack of user interaction requirement increases the risk in scenarios where devices are unattended during reboot. However, the medium severity and absence of known exploits reduce the immediate threat level.

To mitigate this vulnerability, European organizations should prioritize updating affected macOS devices to macOS Tahoe 26 or later, where the issue is fixed with enhanced USB Restricted Mode enforcement. Until updates are applied, organizations should implement strict physical security controls to prevent unauthorized access to devices during boot, including secure storage, controlled access to workstations, and monitoring of device connections. Disabling or restricting USB ports where feasible can reduce exposure. Additionally, organizations should audit and enforce policies on USB device usage, employing endpoint security solutions capable of detecting and blocking unauthorized USB accessories. Regular security awareness training should emphasize the risks of physical access attacks and proper device handling. For high-security environments, consider using hardware-based protections such as USB port locks or tamper-evident seals. Monitoring system logs for unusual USB device activity during boot may also help detect attempted exploitation.