CVE-2025-43332 is a medium-severity vulnerability affecting Apple macOS operating systems, specifically related to a file quarantine bypass that could allow an application to escape its sandbox environment. The sandbox is a critical security mechanism in macOS designed to restrict applications' access to system resources and user data, thereby limiting the potential damage from malicious or compromised apps. This vulnerability arises from insufficient checks in the file quarantine mechanism, which is intended to prevent untrusted or downloaded files from executing without proper scrutiny. By bypassing these quarantine checks, a malicious app with limited privileges (requiring low privileges and no user interaction) could escalate its capabilities and break out of its sandbox confinement. This breakout could lead to unauthorized access to sensitive information or system components, undermining the confidentiality and integrity of the system. The vulnerability has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 5.2, indicating a medium severity level. The vector details (AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:N) show that the attack requires local access with low complexity and low privileges, no user interaction, and impacts confidentiality and integrity with a scope change (meaning the vulnerability affects resources beyond the initially compromised component). Apple addressed this issue in macOS Sequoia 15.7, macOS Sonoma 14.8, and macOS Tahoe 26, indicating that earlier versions remain vulnerable until patched. There are no known exploits in the wild at the time of publication, but the potential for sandbox escape makes this a significant concern for security-conscious environments.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a moderate risk, particularly for those relying on macOS devices in sensitive roles such as software development, research, finance, or government operations. The ability for an app to escape its sandbox could lead to unauthorized data access or manipulation, potentially exposing confidential information or intellectual property. Although exploitation requires local access and low privileges, insider threats or compromised user accounts could leverage this vulnerability to escalate privileges and move laterally within networks. The absence of required user interaction lowers the barrier for exploitation once local access is obtained. This could impact organizations with distributed workforces using macOS laptops or desktops, especially in sectors with strict data protection regulations like GDPR. The vulnerability's impact on confidentiality and integrity, without affecting availability, means attackers could stealthily exfiltrate data or implant persistent modifications without immediate detection. Given the medium severity and the scope change, organizations must prioritize patching to maintain compliance and reduce risk exposure.

European organizations should implement the following specific mitigations: 1) Expedite deployment of the macOS updates Sequoia 15.7, Sonoma 14.8, or Tahoe 26 to all managed Apple devices to ensure the vulnerability is patched. 2) Enforce strict application whitelisting and restrict installation of untrusted or unsigned applications to reduce the risk of malicious apps gaining local access. 3) Implement endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions capable of monitoring for unusual sandbox escape behaviors or privilege escalations on macOS systems. 4) Limit local user privileges where possible, applying the principle of least privilege to reduce the impact of compromised accounts. 5) Conduct regular audits of installed applications and quarantine settings to detect anomalies or misconfigurations. 6) Educate users about the risks of installing software from unverified sources, even though user interaction is not required for exploitation, to reduce initial infection vectors. 7) Integrate macOS security monitoring into centralized SIEM platforms to correlate events and detect potential exploitation attempts. These targeted actions go beyond generic patching and help build a layered defense against exploitation of this vulnerability.