CVE-2025-43304 is a high-severity vulnerability affecting Apple macOS operating systems, including recent versions such as macOS Sequoia 15.7, macOS Sonoma 14.8, and macOS Tahoe 26. The vulnerability arises from a race condition, classified under CWE-362 (Concurrent Execution using Shared Resource with Improper Synchronization), which allows an application to potentially escalate its privileges to root level. A race condition occurs when multiple processes or threads access shared resources concurrently without proper synchronization, leading to unpredictable behavior. In this case, the flaw in state handling within the macOS kernel or system components enables an attacker-controlled app to exploit timing windows to gain unauthorized root privileges. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 7.0, indicating a high severity level. The vector string (AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H) shows that the attack requires local access (AV:L), high attack complexity (AC:H), low privileges initially (PR:L), no user interaction (UI:N), unchanged scope (S:U), and impacts confidentiality, integrity, and availability at a high level (C:H/I:H/A:H). Although no known exploits are currently reported in the wild, the potential for privilege escalation to root is significant, as root access grants full control over the system, including the ability to install persistent malware, access sensitive data, and disrupt system operations. The vulnerability has been addressed by Apple through improved state handling to prevent the race condition, and patches are included in the mentioned macOS versions. However, the affected versions prior to these patches remain vulnerable. The lack of specified affected versions suggests that multiple macOS releases before these patched versions could be impacted. This vulnerability is particularly critical because it does not require user interaction, and an attacker with local access and low privileges can exploit it, making it a serious threat in environments where untrusted or malicious applications can be executed.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2025-43304 can be substantial, especially in sectors relying heavily on macOS systems, such as creative industries, software development, education, and certain government agencies. Successful exploitation allows an attacker to gain root privileges, effectively bypassing all security controls on the affected macOS device. This can lead to unauthorized access to sensitive corporate data, intellectual property theft, installation of persistent malware or backdoors, and disruption of critical services. Given that the vulnerability requires local access but no user interaction, insider threats or attackers who gain initial foothold through other means (e.g., phishing, compromised credentials) could leverage this flaw to escalate privileges and move laterally within networks. The high impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability means that data breaches, system outages, and loss of trust could result. Furthermore, organizations subject to strict data protection regulations such as GDPR must consider the legal and compliance ramifications of breaches stemming from exploitation of this vulnerability. The absence of known exploits in the wild currently provides a window for proactive patching and mitigation, but the high severity and ease of privilege escalation make timely response critical.

European organizations should prioritize the following specific mitigation steps: 1) Immediate patching: Deploy the latest macOS updates (Sequoia 15.7, Sonoma 14.8, Tahoe 26) that address this vulnerability. Ensure all macOS devices are updated promptly. 2) Restrict local access: Limit the ability of untrusted or non-administrative users to execute arbitrary applications on macOS systems. Implement strict application whitelisting and endpoint protection controls to prevent unauthorized app execution. 3) Monitor for suspicious activity: Deploy endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions capable of detecting privilege escalation attempts and anomalous process behavior on macOS devices. 4) Harden user privileges: Enforce the principle of least privilege by ensuring users operate with minimal necessary permissions and avoid persistent administrative rights. 5) Network segmentation: Isolate macOS systems handling sensitive data or critical functions to reduce the risk of lateral movement if a device is compromised. 6) Incident response readiness: Prepare for potential exploitation by developing and testing response plans specific to macOS privilege escalation incidents. 7) Audit and logging: Enable detailed logging of system and security events on macOS devices to facilitate forensic investigations if exploitation occurs. These measures go beyond generic advice by focusing on controlling local access, rapid patch deployment, and enhanced monitoring tailored to the macOS environment.