CVE-2025-43332 is a vulnerability identified in Apple's macOS operating system that allows an application to potentially break out of its sandbox environment. The sandbox is a critical security mechanism designed to isolate applications, restricting their access to system resources and user data to prevent malicious or compromised apps from causing harm beyond their permitted scope. This vulnerability stems from a file quarantine bypass, which means that the checks that normally prevent untrusted or potentially harmful files from executing or interacting with the system were insufficient. By exploiting this bypass, a malicious app could escape the sandbox containment, gaining elevated privileges or broader access to the system than intended. The issue has been addressed by Apple through additional checks in macOS Sequoia 15.7, macOS Sonoma 14.8, and macOS Tahoe 26. The vulnerability was reserved in April 2025 and published in September 2025, with no known exploits in the wild at the time of reporting. The lack of a CVSS score indicates that the vulnerability is newly disclosed and may not yet have been fully assessed for severity. However, sandbox escapes are generally considered serious because they undermine a fundamental security boundary in macOS, potentially allowing attackers to execute arbitrary code with higher privileges, access sensitive data, or persist on the system undetected. The affected versions are unspecified, but the fix is available in recent macOS releases, implying that earlier versions remain vulnerable until patched.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a significant risk, especially those relying on macOS devices for critical business operations, development, or sensitive data handling. A successful sandbox escape could allow attackers to bypass application-level restrictions, leading to unauthorized access to confidential information, installation of persistent malware, or lateral movement within corporate networks. This could result in data breaches, intellectual property theft, or disruption of services. Organizations in sectors such as finance, healthcare, government, and technology, which often use macOS environments, could face regulatory and reputational consequences under GDPR and other compliance frameworks if exploited. Additionally, the stealthy nature of sandbox escapes complicates detection and response, increasing the potential damage before mitigation. Although no exploits are currently known in the wild, the publication of this vulnerability may prompt threat actors to develop exploits, increasing the urgency for European organizations to assess and remediate affected systems promptly.

European organizations should prioritize updating all macOS devices to the patched versions: macOS Sequoia 15.7, macOS Sonoma 14.8, or macOS Tahoe 26, as applicable. Beyond patching, organizations should implement strict application whitelisting to limit the execution of untrusted or unsigned applications that could attempt to exploit this vulnerability. Employing endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions with behavioral analysis can help identify anomalous activities indicative of sandbox escapes. Regularly auditing and restricting user privileges reduces the impact of a compromised application. Network segmentation can limit lateral movement if a device is compromised. Additionally, organizations should educate users about the risks of installing unverified software and enforce policies that prevent the use of unauthorized applications. Monitoring Apple security advisories and threat intelligence feeds for any emerging exploit reports related to this CVE is also recommended to respond promptly to evolving threats.