CVE-2025-43311 is a vulnerability identified in Apple macOS that permits an application to bypass entitlement checks and access protected user data. Entitlements in macOS are security mechanisms that restrict app capabilities and access to sensitive resources. The vulnerability arises due to insufficient enforcement of these entitlement checks, allowing an app without proper permissions to read data that should be protected. This flaw affects unspecified versions prior to macOS Sonoma 14.8 and macOS Sequoia 15.7, where Apple implemented additional entitlement verification to mitigate the issue. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 5.1, indicating a medium severity level, with the vector AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:N. This means the attack requires local access (AV:L), low attack complexity (AC:L), no privileges (PR:N), no user interaction (UI:N), unchanged scope (S:U), and impacts confidentiality and integrity at a low level (C:L/I:L), but does not affect availability (A:N). The vulnerability is categorized under CWE-862, which relates to missing authorization. No known exploits have been reported in the wild, but the potential for unauthorized data access exists if exploited. The vulnerability could be leveraged by malicious local applications or attackers who have gained local access to the system to extract sensitive user data without proper authorization.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a risk of unauthorized disclosure of protected user data on macOS systems. Confidentiality and integrity of user data could be compromised, potentially leading to data breaches, privacy violations, and regulatory non-compliance under GDPR. Since exploitation requires local access but no privileges or user interaction, insider threats or malware that gains local foothold could exploit this vulnerability to escalate data access capabilities. Organizations with employees or systems running vulnerable macOS versions may face risks of data leakage, especially in sectors handling sensitive personal or business information such as finance, healthcare, and government. The impact is heightened in environments where macOS devices are used extensively and where endpoint security controls are insufficient to prevent local compromise.

The primary mitigation is to update all macOS devices to versions 14.8 (Sonoma) or 15.7 (Sequoia) or later, where the entitlement checks have been strengthened. Organizations should enforce strict patch management policies to ensure timely deployment of these updates. Additionally, conduct audits of installed applications to identify and remove any unauthorized or suspicious software that could exploit this vulnerability. Implement endpoint protection solutions that monitor and restrict application behavior and local access attempts. Employ least privilege principles to limit user and application permissions, reducing the risk of local exploitation. Consider using macOS security features such as System Integrity Protection (SIP) and Endpoint Security Framework to detect anomalous access patterns. Finally, educate users about the risks of installing untrusted applications and maintain robust local access controls to prevent unauthorized physical or remote access.