CVE-2025-43326 is a vulnerability identified in Apple macOS that stems from an out-of-bounds read condition caused by inadequate bounds checking in certain system components. This flaw allows a maliciously crafted application to read sensitive user data beyond its authorized memory boundaries. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-125 (Out-of-bounds Read). It does not allow modification of data or disruption of system availability but compromises confidentiality by exposing sensitive information. The vulnerability requires local access (AV:L), low attack complexity (AC:L), no privileges (PR:N), and user interaction (UI:R) to exploit, meaning an attacker must trick a user into running a malicious app on an affected macOS system. The scope is unchanged (S:U), indicating the impact is limited to the vulnerable component without affecting other system components. Apple addressed this issue by improving bounds checking in macOS Sonoma 14.8 and macOS Sequoia 15.7. No public exploits or active exploitation have been reported to date. The vulnerability affects unspecified earlier versions of macOS, implying that users running versions prior to the patches remain at risk. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 5.5, reflecting a medium severity level primarily due to the confidentiality impact and the requirement for user interaction and local access. This vulnerability is significant for environments where sensitive data confidentiality is critical, especially if users install untrusted applications or download software from non-verified sources.

For European organizations, the primary impact of CVE-2025-43326 is the potential unauthorized disclosure of sensitive user data on macOS devices. This could include personal information, credentials, or proprietary business data accessible to a malicious local application. Although the vulnerability does not allow data modification or system disruption, the confidentiality breach could lead to privacy violations, intellectual property theft, or compliance issues under regulations such as GDPR. Organizations with a high number of macOS endpoints, especially in sectors like finance, technology, and government, face increased risk. The requirement for user interaction and local access limits remote exploitation, but social engineering or insider threats could facilitate attacks. The absence of known exploits reduces immediate risk, but delayed patching or lax application controls could increase exposure. Overall, the vulnerability could undermine trust in endpoint security and necessitate enhanced monitoring and incident response capabilities.

1. Immediately apply the security updates macOS Sonoma 14.8 or macOS Sequoia 15.7 to all affected systems to remediate the vulnerability. 2. Enforce strict application installation policies, restricting users from installing apps outside the Apple App Store or trusted enterprise sources. 3. Implement endpoint protection solutions capable of detecting anomalous application behavior indicative of exploitation attempts. 4. Educate users about the risks of running untrusted applications and the importance of avoiding suspicious downloads or links. 5. Use macOS built-in security features such as System Integrity Protection (SIP) and Gatekeeper to limit unauthorized code execution. 6. Monitor system logs and user activity for signs of exploitation or data exfiltration attempts. 7. For high-risk environments, consider application whitelisting and enhanced access controls to minimize the attack surface. 8. Regularly audit and inventory macOS devices to ensure compliance with patching and security policies.