CVE-2025-43337 is a vulnerability identified in Apple macOS that stems from an access control issue related to sandbox restrictions. The sandbox is a security mechanism designed to isolate applications and limit their access to system resources and user data. In this case, the sandbox restrictions were insufficiently enforced, allowing a malicious or compromised app to access sensitive user data that should have been protected. The vulnerability does not require the attacker to have elevated privileges (PR:N) but does require local access (AV:L) and user interaction (UI:R), such as opening or running the malicious app. The scope is unchanged (S:U), meaning the impact is confined to the same security scope. The vulnerability impacts confidentiality (C:H) but does not affect integrity or availability (I:N/A:N). Apple addressed this issue by implementing additional sandbox restrictions in macOS Tahoe 26, which is the fixed version. The vulnerability is associated with CWE-284 (Improper Access Control), indicating that the root cause is related to inadequate enforcement of access permissions. No public exploits or active exploitation in the wild have been reported so far, but the potential for sensitive data exposure remains a concern. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 5.5, reflecting a medium severity level due to the combination of local attack vector, low complexity, and high confidentiality impact.

For European organizations, the primary impact of CVE-2025-43337 is the potential unauthorized access to sensitive user data on macOS devices. This could lead to data leakage involving personal information, intellectual property, or confidential business data. Organizations with a significant number of macOS endpoints, especially in sectors such as finance, technology, healthcare, and government, may face increased risk. The requirement for local access and user interaction limits remote exploitation but does not eliminate insider threat or social engineering risks. Data breaches resulting from this vulnerability could lead to regulatory penalties under GDPR, reputational damage, and operational disruptions. The confidentiality breach could also facilitate further attacks if sensitive credentials or tokens are exposed. Since the vulnerability does not affect system integrity or availability, it is less likely to cause system outages or data corruption but remains a serious privacy concern.

To mitigate CVE-2025-43337, European organizations should prioritize updating all macOS devices to macOS Tahoe 26 or later, where the vulnerability is fixed. Enforce strict application control policies to limit the installation and execution of untrusted or unsigned applications, reducing the risk of malicious apps exploiting the vulnerability. Implement endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions capable of monitoring suspicious app behaviors and sandbox escapes. Educate users about the risks of running unverified applications and the importance of cautious user interaction to prevent exploitation. Regularly audit and review sandbox configurations and access controls on macOS endpoints to ensure compliance with security best practices. Additionally, organizations should maintain robust data encryption and access logging to detect and respond to unauthorized data access attempts promptly.