CVE-2025-43312 is a buffer overflow vulnerability identified in Apple macOS, specifically addressed in macOS Sonoma 14.8 and macOS Sequoia 15.7. The root cause is insufficient bounds checking in a component of the operating system, which allows a malicious or specially crafted application to trigger unexpected system termination, effectively causing a denial of service (DoS) condition. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-120 (Classic Buffer Overflow), indicating that the flaw arises from improper handling of memory buffers, which can lead to overwriting adjacent memory and destabilizing the system. Exploitation requires local access with low privileges (AV:L - Attack Vector: Local), no privileges required (PR:N), but user interaction is necessary (UI:R), meaning the user must run or interact with the malicious app. The impact is limited to availability (A:H), with no confidentiality or integrity loss. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 5.5, reflecting medium severity. No known exploits have been reported in the wild, and the affected versions are unspecified but presumably all versions prior to the patched releases. The fix involves improved bounds checking to prevent buffer overflow conditions. This vulnerability could be leveraged by attackers to disrupt system operations, potentially impacting user productivity and system reliability.

For European organizations, the primary impact of CVE-2025-43312 is on system availability. Unexpected system termination can disrupt business operations, especially in environments where macOS devices are integral to workflows, such as creative industries, software development, and certain administrative functions. Although the vulnerability does not compromise data confidentiality or integrity, repeated crashes could lead to data loss or corruption if unsaved work is lost. The requirement for local access and user interaction limits remote exploitation, reducing the risk of widespread automated attacks. However, insider threats or social engineering attacks could exploit this vulnerability to cause targeted disruptions. Organizations relying heavily on macOS systems for critical infrastructure or services may experience operational downtime, affecting service delivery and potentially incurring financial losses. The absence of known exploits in the wild currently lowers immediate risk but does not eliminate the threat, especially as attackers may develop exploits post-disclosure.

European organizations should prioritize updating all macOS devices to Sonoma 14.8 or Sequoia 15.7 as soon as these patches are available to eliminate the vulnerability. Until patches are applied, organizations should restrict the execution of untrusted or unsigned applications, enforce strict application whitelisting policies, and educate users about the risks of running unknown apps to minimize the chance of exploitation. Implement endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions capable of monitoring for abnormal application behavior and system crashes to detect potential exploitation attempts early. Regular backups should be maintained to prevent data loss from unexpected system terminations. Additionally, organizations should review and tighten local access controls to limit the ability of unauthorized users to execute potentially malicious applications. Monitoring for unusual user activity and system instability can help identify exploitation attempts. Finally, coordinate with Apple support channels for timely updates and advisories.