CVE-2025-43369 is a medium-severity vulnerability affecting Apple macOS, specifically addressed in macOS Tahoe 26. The vulnerability arises from improper handling of symbolic links (symlinks), which can allow a malicious application to access protected user data without proper authorization. Symlinks are filesystem objects that point to other files or directories, and improper resolution or validation of these links can lead to unauthorized data access. In this case, the vulnerability enables an app to bypass intended access controls and read sensitive user information. The CVSS 3.1 base score is 5.5, reflecting a local attack vector (AV:L), low attack complexity (AC:L), no privileges required (PR:N), but requiring user interaction (UI:R). The scope remains unchanged (S:U), and the impact is high on confidentiality (C:H), with no impact on integrity (I:N) or availability (A:N). This means that while the attacker cannot modify or disrupt system operations, they can potentially read sensitive data. The vulnerability is categorized under CWE-284, which relates to improper access control. No known exploits are currently reported in the wild, and the affected versions are unspecified, but the fix is included in macOS Tahoe 26. The vulnerability was reserved in April 2025 and published in September 2025.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a risk primarily to confidentiality of user data on macOS devices. Organizations relying on Apple hardware and software, especially those handling sensitive personal or corporate data, could face data leakage if a malicious app is installed and the user interacts with it. The requirement for user interaction reduces the risk of automated exploitation but does not eliminate the threat, especially in environments where users may install untrusted software or open malicious files. The impact is particularly significant for sectors with strict data protection regulations such as GDPR, where unauthorized data access can lead to compliance violations and reputational damage. Since the vulnerability does not affect integrity or availability, operational disruptions are unlikely, but the exposure of confidential information could facilitate further attacks such as social engineering or targeted phishing campaigns. The lack of known exploits in the wild suggests limited immediate threat, but the medium severity and potential for data exposure warrant proactive mitigation.

European organizations should prioritize updating macOS devices to version Tahoe 26 or later to ensure the vulnerability is patched. Until updates are deployed, organizations should enforce strict application control policies, restricting installation of untrusted or unsigned applications to minimize the risk of malicious apps exploiting this vulnerability. User education is critical to reduce risky behaviors such as opening unknown files or granting unnecessary permissions. Implementing endpoint security solutions with behavioral detection can help identify suspicious activities related to symlink exploitation. Additionally, organizations should audit and monitor access to sensitive data on macOS systems to detect unusual access patterns. For environments with high security requirements, consider deploying macOS devices with reduced user privileges and enabling system integrity protections to limit the impact of potential exploitation. Regular vulnerability scanning and compliance checks should include verification of macOS versions and patch status to maintain security posture.