CVE-2025-43373 is a memory corruption vulnerability in Apple macOS that allows an application to cause unexpected system termination or corrupt kernel memory. The root cause lies in improper memory handling, specifically related to out-of-bounds memory writes or buffer overflows, as indicated by the associated CWEs (CWE-119 and CWE-787). This flaw can be triggered by an unprivileged app without requiring user interaction or elevated privileges, making it accessible to remote attackers or malicious applications running locally. The vulnerability affects multiple macOS versions before the patched releases: Sequoia 15.7.2, Tahoe 26.1, and Sonoma 14.8.2. Successful exploitation could lead to system crashes (denial of service) or kernel memory corruption, potentially enabling further privilege escalation or data leakage. The CVSS v3.1 score of 7.5 reflects a high severity, with a vector indicating network attack vector (AV:N), low attack complexity (AC:L), no privileges required (PR:N), no user interaction (UI:N), unchanged scope (S:U), high confidentiality impact (C:H), but no impact on integrity or availability (I:N/A:N). Apple addressed the issue by improving memory handling in the kernel to prevent out-of-bounds writes and buffer overflows. No public exploits have been reported yet, but the vulnerability poses a significant risk due to its ease of exploitation and potential impact on system confidentiality and stability.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a significant risk especially for those relying on macOS systems in critical roles such as software development, creative industries, and executive environments. Exploitation could lead to unexpected system crashes, causing operational disruptions and potential data loss. More critically, kernel memory corruption could be leveraged by attackers to escalate privileges or access sensitive information stored in kernel memory, threatening confidentiality. Since exploitation requires no privileges or user interaction, the attack surface is broad, increasing the likelihood of compromise if unpatched systems are exposed to malicious apps or network vectors. This could impact sectors like finance, government, healthcare, and technology firms that use macOS devices extensively. Additionally, the instability caused by system termination could disrupt business continuity and lead to increased incident response costs. The absence of known exploits in the wild currently reduces immediate risk but does not eliminate the threat, especially as attackers may develop exploits rapidly following public disclosure.

1. Immediately apply the security updates released by Apple for macOS Sequoia 15.7.2, Tahoe 26.1, and Sonoma 14.8.2 to ensure the vulnerability is patched. 2. Implement strict application whitelisting to prevent untrusted or unknown applications from executing, reducing the risk of malicious apps exploiting the vulnerability. 3. Employ endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions capable of monitoring kernel-level anomalies and memory corruption attempts. 4. Restrict network exposure of macOS devices where possible, especially limiting access to untrusted networks or sources that could deliver malicious payloads. 5. Conduct regular audits of installed applications and remove unnecessary or outdated software that could be exploited. 6. Educate users about the risks of installing unverified applications and encourage adherence to security best practices. 7. Monitor security advisories and threat intelligence feeds for any emerging exploits targeting this vulnerability to enable rapid response. 8. Consider deploying macOS security features such as System Integrity Protection (SIP) and Kernel Extension Protection to limit kernel modifications.