CVE-2025-43285 is a permissions-related vulnerability in Apple macOS that allows an application to bypass intended access controls and access protected user data without requiring privileges. The vulnerability arises from improper enforcement of access restrictions (classified under CWE-284), enabling apps to read sensitive information that should be protected by the operating system. Exploitation requires user interaction, such as running or installing a malicious app, but does not require elevated privileges or prior authentication. The vulnerability affects unspecified macOS versions prior to the patched releases macOS Sonoma 14.8 and macOS Sequoia 15.7, where Apple implemented additional restrictions to close this access gap. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 5.5 (medium severity), reflecting the local attack vector, low complexity, no privileges required, user interaction needed, and high impact on confidentiality but no impact on integrity or availability. No known exploits have been reported in the wild as of the publication date. This vulnerability could be leveraged by attackers to exfiltrate sensitive user data, potentially including personal files, credentials, or other protected information, posing privacy and compliance risks. The issue underscores the importance of strict access control enforcement in modern operating systems to prevent unauthorized data exposure.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a risk to the confidentiality of sensitive user data on macOS devices. Organizations with employees or systems running vulnerable macOS versions could face data leakage if users execute malicious applications exploiting this flaw. This could lead to exposure of personal data, intellectual property, or credentials, potentially violating GDPR and other data protection regulations. While the vulnerability does not affect system integrity or availability, the confidentiality breach alone can result in reputational damage, regulatory fines, and operational disruptions. Sectors with high reliance on macOS, such as creative industries, software development, and financial services, may be particularly impacted. The requirement for user interaction means social engineering or phishing campaigns could be used to trigger exploitation, increasing the attack surface. The absence of known exploits in the wild reduces immediate risk but does not eliminate the threat, especially as attackers often develop exploits after public disclosure.

1. Immediately apply the security updates macOS Sonoma 14.8 and macOS Sequoia 15.7 to all affected devices to remediate the vulnerability. 2. Enforce strict application installation policies, limiting installations to trusted sources such as the Apple App Store or enterprise-signed apps. 3. Implement endpoint protection solutions capable of detecting and blocking suspicious app behaviors indicative of exploitation attempts. 4. Conduct user awareness training focused on the risks of running untrusted applications and recognizing phishing or social engineering attempts that could lead to exploitation. 5. Utilize macOS built-in security features such as Gatekeeper and System Integrity Protection (SIP) to reduce the risk of unauthorized app execution. 6. Monitor system logs and network traffic for unusual access patterns or data exfiltration attempts originating from macOS endpoints. 7. For organizations with sensitive data, consider additional data encryption and access controls at the application and file system levels to limit exposure even if the OS-level controls are bypassed.