CVE-2025-43310 is a vulnerability identified in Apple macOS operating systems prior to versions Sequoia 15.7, Sonoma 14.8, and Tahoe 26. The root cause is a configuration issue that allowed applications to manipulate the system pasteboard in a way that could trick users into copying sensitive information unknowingly. The pasteboard is a shared resource used for copy-paste operations across applications. By exploiting this vulnerability, a malicious app with low privileges could cause sensitive data to be copied to the pasteboard without explicit user consent or awareness. This could lead to unintended data leakage if other applications or users access the pasteboard contents. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-359 (Exposure of Sensitive Information Through an Information Leak). The CVSS v3.1 base score is 4.4, reflecting a medium severity level, with attack vector local (AV:L), low attack complexity (AC:L), requiring privileges (PR:L), no user interaction (UI:N), unchanged scope (S:U), and low impact on confidentiality and integrity (C:L/I:L) but no impact on availability (A:N). Apple addressed this issue by implementing additional restrictions on pasteboard operations in the specified macOS versions. No public exploits have been reported to date, but the vulnerability poses a risk especially in environments where untrusted or malicious applications may be installed.

The primary impact of CVE-2025-43310 is the potential unauthorized exposure of sensitive information through the macOS pasteboard. This can compromise confidentiality if sensitive data such as passwords, tokens, or private documents are copied without user awareness. Integrity may also be affected if malicious apps manipulate pasteboard contents to inject misleading or malicious data. Although availability is not impacted, the risk of data leakage can have serious consequences including data breaches, compliance violations, and loss of user trust. Organizations with macOS endpoints, especially those in regulated industries or handling sensitive information, face increased risk if vulnerable versions are in use. The vulnerability requires local access and some privileges, so insider threats or compromised user accounts could exploit it. The lack of required user interaction lowers the barrier for exploitation once the malicious app is installed. Overall, this vulnerability could facilitate lateral movement or data exfiltration in targeted attacks.

1. Apply the latest macOS updates immediately: Upgrade all affected systems to macOS Sequoia 15.7, Sonoma 14.8, or Tahoe 26 where the vulnerability is fixed. 2. Enforce strict application control policies: Use Apple’s built-in security features such as Gatekeeper, notarization, and MDM solutions to restrict installation of untrusted or unsigned applications. 3. Limit user privileges: Restrict user accounts to the minimum necessary privileges to reduce the risk of local exploitation. 4. Monitor pasteboard usage: Employ endpoint monitoring tools to detect unusual or unauthorized pasteboard access or modifications. 5. Educate users: Train users to be cautious about installing unknown apps and to be aware of suspicious clipboard behavior. 6. Use data loss prevention (DLP) solutions that can monitor clipboard data flows and prevent sensitive data leakage. 7. Regularly audit installed applications and remove any unnecessary or suspicious software. These steps go beyond generic patching advice by focusing on reducing attack surface and detecting exploitation attempts.