CVE-2025-43378 is a permissions-related vulnerability in Apple macOS that allows an application to access sensitive user data improperly. The root cause is a permissions issue that was addressed by Apple through additional restrictions in macOS Sequoia 15.7.2 and macOS Tahoe 26.1. The vulnerability falls under CWE-200 (Exposure of Sensitive Information to an Unauthorized Actor). Exploitation requires the attacker to have local access to the system and to trick the user into interacting with the malicious app (user interaction required). No privileges or authentication are needed, meaning any app running under the user's context could potentially exploit this flaw. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 5.5 (medium severity), with vector AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N, indicating local attack vector, low complexity, no privileges required, user interaction required, unchanged scope, high confidentiality impact, and no impact on integrity or availability. No known exploits have been reported in the wild, suggesting limited active exploitation at this time. The vulnerability could lead to unauthorized disclosure of sensitive user data, which may include personal information, credentials, or other confidential content accessible by the app. Apple’s fix involves tightening permission checks to prevent unauthorized data access by apps. Organizations relying on macOS should prioritize updating to the patched versions to mitigate this risk.

For European organizations, this vulnerability primarily threatens the confidentiality of sensitive user data on macOS devices. Organizations with employees using macOS systems, especially in sectors handling sensitive or regulated data such as finance, healthcare, and government, could face data leakage risks if devices remain unpatched. The requirement for local access and user interaction limits remote exploitation but increases risk from insider threats or social engineering attacks. Data exposure could lead to privacy violations, regulatory non-compliance (e.g., GDPR), reputational damage, and potential financial losses. Since the vulnerability does not affect integrity or availability, operational disruption is unlikely. However, the exposure of sensitive data could facilitate further attacks or unauthorized access to corporate resources. The absence of known exploits in the wild reduces immediate risk but does not eliminate the need for prompt remediation. European organizations with remote or hybrid workforces should also consider the increased risk of compromised endpoints outside traditional network perimeters.

1. Immediately update all macOS devices to versions Sequoia 15.7.2 or Tahoe 26.1 or later to apply the security fix. 2. Implement strict application control policies to limit installation and execution of untrusted or unnecessary apps, reducing the attack surface. 3. Educate users about the risks of installing unknown applications and the importance of cautious interaction with app prompts to prevent social engineering exploitation. 4. Regularly audit and review app permissions on macOS devices to ensure no excessive access is granted to apps. 5. Employ endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions capable of monitoring suspicious local activities and app behaviors indicative of exploitation attempts. 6. Enforce least privilege principles for user accounts to limit the impact of compromised user contexts. 7. Maintain up-to-date asset inventories to quickly identify and remediate vulnerable macOS systems. 8. For sensitive environments, consider additional data encryption and access controls to protect sensitive user data even if accessed by unauthorized apps.