CVE-2025-43328 is a permissions-related vulnerability identified in Apple macOS, specifically addressed in the macOS Tahoe 26 update. The flaw involves insufficient restrictions on application permissions, allowing an app with limited privileges (local access and low privilege) to potentially access sensitive user data without requiring user interaction. The vulnerability is categorized under CWE-284 (Improper Access Control), indicating that the system failed to enforce adequate permission checks. The CVSS 3.1 base score is 3.3 (low), with vector AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:N/A:N, meaning the attack requires local access, low attack complexity, low privileges, no user interaction, unchanged scope, and results in limited confidentiality impact without affecting integrity or availability. No specific affected macOS versions were detailed, but the fix is included in macOS Tahoe 26. No exploits have been reported in the wild, suggesting limited active threat. The vulnerability's root cause is a permissions issue that could allow unauthorized access to sensitive user data by apps that should not have such access, posing a privacy risk rather than a system compromise or denial of service.

For European organizations, the primary impact is the potential unauthorized disclosure of sensitive user data on macOS devices. Although the vulnerability does not affect system integrity or availability, exposure of confidential information can lead to privacy violations, regulatory non-compliance (e.g., GDPR), and reputational damage. Organizations with employees using macOS systems, especially in sectors handling sensitive personal or business data (finance, healthcare, legal), face increased risk. The low CVSS score and lack of known exploits reduce the immediate threat level, but the possibility of local attackers or malicious insiders exploiting this vulnerability to access sensitive data remains. The impact is more pronounced in environments where device physical or logical access controls are weak, or where users install untrusted applications. The vulnerability underscores the need for strict application permission management and timely patching to prevent data leakage.

1. Promptly update all macOS devices to macOS Tahoe 26 or later, where the vulnerability is fixed. 2. Enforce strict application whitelisting and restrict installation of untrusted or unnecessary apps to reduce the attack surface. 3. Implement endpoint security solutions that monitor and alert on unusual application behavior or unauthorized access attempts to sensitive data. 4. Educate users about the risks of installing apps from unverified sources and the importance of maintaining device security. 5. Apply least privilege principles for user accounts and app permissions to limit potential exploitation. 6. Regularly audit macOS device configurations and permissions to ensure compliance with security policies. 7. Employ device encryption and strong authentication to reduce the risk of local attackers gaining access. 8. Monitor logs for suspicious local activity that could indicate attempts to exploit permission weaknesses.