CVE-2025-43320 is a privilege escalation vulnerability in Apple macOS that allows an application to bypass the system's launch constraint protections. Launch constraints are security mechanisms designed to restrict how and when applications can execute, preventing unauthorized or malicious code from running with elevated privileges. This vulnerability arises from insufficient enforcement of these constraints, enabling a malicious app to circumvent these protections and execute code with higher privileges than intended. The exact affected macOS versions are unspecified, but the issue has been fixed in macOS Sequoia 15.7.3 by introducing additional logic to strengthen launch constraint enforcement. The vulnerability does not require user interaction or authentication, increasing its risk profile. No public exploits have been reported yet, but the potential for attackers to gain elevated privileges could lead to full system compromise, unauthorized data access, or persistence on the device. This flaw is particularly concerning for environments where macOS is used for sensitive operations, as it undermines the core security model of the operating system.

For European organizations, this vulnerability could lead to significant security breaches if exploited. Elevated privileges allow attackers to bypass security controls, access sensitive data, install persistent malware, or disrupt system availability. Organizations in finance, government, healthcare, and critical infrastructure sectors that rely on macOS devices for daily operations are at heightened risk. The ability to execute malicious code with elevated privileges could facilitate lateral movement within networks, data exfiltration, or sabotage of critical systems. The lack of known exploits currently provides a window for proactive patching, but the potential impact remains high due to the severity of privilege escalation. Additionally, organizations with bring-your-own-device (BYOD) policies or remote workforces using macOS devices may face increased exposure. Failure to promptly update systems could result in targeted attacks leveraging this vulnerability.

European organizations should prioritize deploying the macOS Sequoia 15.7.3 update across all affected devices to remediate this vulnerability. Beyond patching, organizations should enforce strict application whitelisting policies to limit the execution of unauthorized software. Implementing endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions capable of monitoring for unusual privilege escalation behaviors can aid in early detection of exploitation attempts. Restricting administrative privileges and using least privilege principles will reduce the attack surface. Network segmentation can limit the spread of an attacker who gains elevated access on one device. Regular auditing of installed applications and system logs can help identify suspicious activities. Additionally, educating users about the risks of installing untrusted applications and enforcing strict controls on app installation sources (e.g., Apple App Store only) will further reduce risk. Organizations should also prepare incident response plans specifically addressing privilege escalation scenarios on macOS platforms.