CVE-2025-43334 is a vulnerability identified in Apple macOS that allows an application to access user-sensitive data improperly due to insufficient entitlement checks. Entitlements in macOS are security mechanisms that restrict app capabilities; this flaw permits an app without proper entitlements to bypass these restrictions and read sensitive user data. The vulnerability affects multiple macOS versions prior to the patched releases: Sequoia 15.7.2, Tahoe 26.1, and Sonoma 14.8.2. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 5.5 (medium), with an attack vector of local (AV:L), low attack complexity (AC:L), no privileges required (PR:N), user interaction required (UI:R), unchanged scope (S:U), high confidentiality impact (C:H), and no impact on integrity or availability (I:N/A:N). This means an attacker must have local access and trick the user into interacting with a malicious app to exploit the vulnerability. The flaw is categorized under CWE-284 (Improper Access Control), indicating a failure to enforce correct entitlement checks. Although no exploits are currently known in the wild, the potential for unauthorized access to sensitive data poses a significant privacy risk. The issue was addressed by Apple through enhanced entitlement verification in the specified macOS updates. Organizations running affected macOS versions are advised to update promptly to mitigate the risk.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a risk of unauthorized disclosure of sensitive user data, which can include personal information, credentials, or confidential business data stored or accessible on macOS devices. Sectors such as finance, healthcare, legal, and government agencies that rely on macOS for endpoint devices may face increased risks of data breaches or privacy violations. The requirement for local access and user interaction limits remote exploitation but does not eliminate insider threats or risks from social engineering attacks. Data confidentiality compromise can lead to regulatory non-compliance under GDPR, resulting in legal and financial penalties. Additionally, loss of trust and reputational damage may occur if sensitive information is leaked. The absence of known exploits reduces immediate risk but does not preclude future exploitation attempts, especially as attackers develop new techniques. Therefore, the impact is primarily on confidentiality with medium severity, but the broad use of macOS in certain European markets elevates the importance of timely mitigation.

1. Immediately apply the security updates macOS Sequoia 15.7.2, Tahoe 26.1, or Sonoma 14.8.2 as appropriate to ensure entitlement checks are enforced correctly. 2. Restrict installation of applications to trusted sources such as the Apple App Store or enterprise-approved software repositories to reduce the risk of malicious apps exploiting this vulnerability. 3. Implement endpoint protection solutions that monitor for unusual app behavior or privilege escalation attempts on macOS devices. 4. Educate users about the risks of installing untrusted applications and the importance of cautious interaction with prompts or requests for permissions. 5. Employ application whitelisting and macOS security features like System Integrity Protection (SIP) and Gatekeeper to limit unauthorized app execution. 6. Conduct regular audits of installed applications and entitlement configurations to detect anomalies. 7. For organizations with sensitive data, consider additional data encryption and access controls to minimize exposure even if an app gains unauthorized access. 8. Monitor security advisories from Apple and threat intelligence sources for any emerging exploit reports related to this vulnerability.