CVE-2025-43285 is a permissions-related vulnerability affecting Apple macOS operating systems, specifically addressed in macOS Sequoia 15.7, macOS Sonoma 14.8, and macOS Tahoe 26. The vulnerability arises from insufficient restrictions on app permissions, which could allow a malicious or compromised application to access protected user data without proper authorization. Although the exact affected versions prior to the patched releases are unspecified, the issue involves a failure in the enforcement of access controls that safeguard sensitive user information. This type of vulnerability typically enables unauthorized data disclosure, potentially exposing personal files, credentials, or other confidential information stored or managed by the operating system. The vulnerability was reserved in April 2025 and published in September 2025, with no known exploits in the wild at the time of reporting. The absence of a CVSS score indicates that the vulnerability is newly disclosed and may require further analysis for precise impact quantification. However, the core technical concern is that an app, which normally should be sandboxed or restricted, can bypass these controls to access data that should remain protected, undermining the confidentiality guarantees of the macOS security model.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2025-43285 could be significant, especially for enterprises and institutions relying on macOS devices for handling sensitive or regulated data. Unauthorized access to protected user data can lead to data breaches, exposing personal identifiable information (PII), intellectual property, or confidential business information. This could result in compliance violations with stringent European data protection regulations such as the GDPR, potentially leading to heavy fines and reputational damage. Additionally, sectors like finance, healthcare, legal, and government agencies that often use macOS environments may face increased risk of targeted attacks exploiting this vulnerability to gain footholds or exfiltrate data. Although no active exploits are known, the vulnerability’s nature suggests that if weaponized, it could facilitate insider threats or malware campaigns that bypass traditional endpoint protections. The breach of user data confidentiality also undermines trust in Apple’s platform security, which is critical for organizations that depend on macOS for secure operations.

To mitigate the risk posed by CVE-2025-43285, European organizations should prioritize the deployment of the security updates provided by Apple in macOS Sequoia 15.7, Sonoma 14.8, and Tahoe 26 as soon as they become available. Beyond patching, organizations should implement strict application control policies using Apple’s Endpoint Security framework and Mobile Device Management (MDM) solutions to restrict app installations to trusted sources only. Employing runtime monitoring and behavior analysis tools can help detect anomalous app activities that attempt unauthorized data access. Additionally, organizations should enforce the principle of least privilege by limiting user permissions and disabling unnecessary services or features that could be exploited. Regular audits of installed applications and their permission requests can help identify potentially risky apps. User education on the risks of installing untrusted software and phishing attempts that might deliver malicious apps is also critical. Finally, integrating macOS security logs with centralized Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) systems can enhance detection and response capabilities.