CVE-2025-43298 is a vulnerability identified in Apple macOS that stems from a parsing issue in the handling of directory paths. Specifically, the flaw involves insufficient validation of directory path inputs, which can be exploited by an application running with limited privileges to escalate its privileges to root level. This vulnerability is categorized under CWE-41, which relates to improper path handling that can lead to security breaches. The vulnerability affects unspecified versions of macOS but has been addressed in macOS Sonoma 14.8 and macOS Sequoia 15.7 through improved path validation mechanisms. The CVSS 3.1 base score is 7.8, indicating a high severity level. The vector string (AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H) reveals that the attack requires local access (AV:L), low attack complexity (AC:L), low privileges (PR:L), no user interaction (UI:N), unchanged scope (S:U), and results in high impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability (C:H/I:H/A:H). This means an attacker with limited local privileges can exploit the vulnerability without user interaction to gain full root access, potentially compromising the entire system. No known exploits have been reported in the wild yet, but the vulnerability presents a significant risk, especially in environments where local access can be obtained by malicious actors. The flaw could be leveraged to bypass security controls, install persistent malware, or exfiltrate sensitive data. The patch involves enhanced validation of directory paths to prevent malicious input from triggering the escalation.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2025-43298 could be substantial, particularly in sectors relying heavily on macOS devices such as creative industries, software development, finance, and government agencies. Successful exploitation allows an attacker to gain root privileges, effectively granting full control over the affected system. This can lead to unauthorized data access, system manipulation, installation of persistent backdoors, and disruption of critical services. The high impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability means sensitive corporate and personal data could be exposed or altered, potentially leading to regulatory non-compliance under GDPR and other data protection laws. Additionally, the ability to escalate privileges locally could facilitate lateral movement within networks, increasing the risk of broader compromise. Organizations with remote or hybrid workforces using macOS devices are particularly vulnerable if endpoint security is insufficient. The absence of known exploits in the wild provides a window for proactive defense, but the ease of exploitation and high impact necessitate urgent mitigation.

1. Apply the official patches released by Apple for macOS Sonoma 14.8 and Sequoia 15.7 immediately to all affected systems. 2. Restrict local user privileges to the minimum necessary, preventing unauthorized application installations or execution of untrusted code. 3. Implement application whitelisting to control which applications can run on macOS endpoints. 4. Monitor system logs and use endpoint detection and response (EDR) tools to detect unusual privilege escalation attempts or suspicious directory path manipulations. 5. Enforce strict access controls on sensitive systems and limit physical and remote access to trusted users only. 6. Educate users about the risks of running untrusted applications and the importance of reporting suspicious activity. 7. Regularly audit macOS systems for compliance with security policies and verify patch levels. 8. Consider network segmentation to contain potential compromises and reduce lateral movement opportunities. 9. Maintain up-to-date backups to enable recovery in case of compromise. 10. Engage in threat hunting focused on privilege escalation indicators related to directory path handling.