CVE-2025-43294 is a vulnerability identified in Apple’s handling of environment variables across multiple operating systems, including tvOS, macOS Tahoe, watchOS, iOS, and iPadOS. The root cause is insufficient validation of environment variables, which could allow an application running with limited privileges to access sensitive user data that should otherwise be protected. This vulnerability falls under CWE-284 (Improper Access Control), indicating that the affected systems did not adequately restrict access to certain environment variables. The issue was resolved by Apple through improved validation mechanisms in tvOS 26.1 and corresponding updates to other OS versions. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 3.3 (low severity), with the vector indicating local attack vector (AV:L), low attack complexity (AC:L), requiring privileges (PR:L), no user interaction (UI:N), unchanged scope (S:U), and limited confidentiality impact (C:L), with no impact on integrity or availability. No public exploits have been reported, suggesting the vulnerability is not actively exploited. However, the potential for sensitive data exposure exists if a malicious app is installed on a vulnerable device. The vulnerability affects all versions prior to the patched releases, but the exact affected versions are unspecified. This issue is particularly relevant for environments where Apple devices are used to handle sensitive user information or where apps from less trusted sources might be installed.

For European organizations, the primary impact of CVE-2025-43294 is the potential unauthorized access to sensitive user data on Apple devices running vulnerable versions of tvOS, macOS Tahoe, watchOS, iOS, or iPadOS. Although the confidentiality impact is limited and exploitation requires local privileges, organizations that deploy Apple devices in sensitive roles—such as media companies using Apple TV for content distribution, enterprises with BYOD policies including Apple devices, or sectors handling personal or proprietary data—may face increased risk of data leakage. The vulnerability does not affect system integrity or availability, so operational disruption is unlikely. However, exposure of sensitive data could lead to privacy violations, regulatory non-compliance (e.g., GDPR), and reputational damage. Since no user interaction is required, a malicious app installed on a device could silently exploit this flaw. The risk is mitigated by the requirement for local privileges, limiting remote exploitation scenarios. Organizations with a high density of Apple device usage, especially in countries with strong Apple market penetration, should prioritize patching to reduce this risk.

European organizations should implement the following specific mitigation steps: 1) Promptly update all Apple devices to tvOS 26.1, macOS Tahoe 26, watchOS 26.1, iOS 26.1, and iPadOS 26.1 or later to ensure the vulnerability is patched. 2) Enforce strict app installation policies, limiting installation to trusted sources such as the Apple App Store and using Mobile Device Management (MDM) solutions to control app deployment. 3) Monitor and audit installed applications on Apple devices to detect any unauthorized or suspicious apps that could exploit this vulnerability. 4) Educate users about the risks of installing untrusted applications and the importance of applying OS updates promptly. 5) Implement endpoint security solutions capable of detecting anomalous app behavior on Apple devices. 6) For organizations using Apple TV devices in enterprise or media environments, segment these devices on separate network zones to limit lateral movement if compromised. 7) Regularly review and update security policies related to Apple device usage and ensure compliance with data protection regulations. These targeted measures go beyond generic patching advice by focusing on controlling app sources, monitoring device integrity, and network segmentation.