CVE-2025-43286 is a sandbox escape vulnerability in Apple macOS identified as a permissions issue that allowed applications to break out of their restricted sandbox environment. Sandboxing is a critical security mechanism that isolates applications to limit their access to system resources and user data. This vulnerability undermines this isolation, potentially allowing a malicious or compromised app to execute unauthorized actions beyond its intended scope. The flaw was addressed by Apple through additional restrictions implemented in macOS Sonoma 14.8 and macOS Sequoia 15.7. The CVSS v3.1 base score of 7.8 reflects a high-severity issue, with an attack vector requiring local access (AV:L), low attack complexity (AC:L), and low privileges (PR:L), but no user interaction (UI:N). The impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability is rated high (C:H/I:H/A:H), indicating that exploitation could lead to full system compromise, data theft, or disruption of services. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-862 (Missing Authorization), highlighting that the sandbox escape results from insufficient permission checks. Although no exploits have been observed in the wild, the potential for privilege escalation and system compromise makes this a critical concern for macOS users and administrators. The lack of specified affected versions suggests that the issue may impact multiple macOS releases prior to the patched versions. Organizations relying on macOS for critical operations should assess their exposure and apply the available patches promptly.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a significant risk, especially those in sectors such as finance, healthcare, government, and technology, where macOS devices are commonly used and data sensitivity is high. Successful exploitation could allow attackers to bypass sandbox restrictions, escalate privileges, and gain unauthorized access to sensitive information or critical system components. This could lead to data breaches, intellectual property theft, disruption of business operations, and potential compliance violations under regulations like GDPR. The requirement for local access limits remote exploitation but does not eliminate risk, as insider threats or malware that gains initial foothold could leverage this vulnerability to deepen system compromise. The high impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability underscores the potential for severe operational and reputational damage. Organizations with macOS endpoints must consider this vulnerability in their risk assessments and incident response planning.

To mitigate CVE-2025-43286, European organizations should immediately deploy the security updates provided by Apple in macOS Sonoma 14.8 and macOS Sequoia 15.7. Beyond patching, organizations should enforce strict endpoint security controls, including application whitelisting to prevent unauthorized apps from executing, and implement least privilege principles to limit user and process permissions. Regularly audit and monitor macOS systems for unusual behavior indicative of sandbox escape attempts. Employ endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions capable of detecting privilege escalation and sandbox violations. Educate users about the risks of installing untrusted applications and maintain robust access controls to minimize the risk of local exploitation. Additionally, segment macOS devices within the network to reduce the impact of potential compromises. Organizations should also review and update their incident response playbooks to include scenarios involving sandbox escape vulnerabilities.