CVE-2025-43379 is a vulnerability identified in Apple’s macOS and other related operating systems, including iOS, iPadOS, tvOS, watchOS, and visionOS. The root cause is improper validation of symbolic links (symlinks), which can be exploited by a local application with limited privileges (low privilege requirement) to access protected user data that should otherwise be inaccessible. This vulnerability is classified under CWE-59, which relates to improper handling of symbolic links, potentially allowing unauthorized file access. The attack vector is local (AV:L), meaning the attacker must have some level of local access or control over an app running on the device. The attack complexity is low (AC:L), and no user interaction is required (UI:N). The vulnerability impacts confidentiality (C:H) but does not affect integrity (I:N) or availability (A:N). The scope is unchanged (S:U), indicating the vulnerability affects resources within the same security scope. Apple has released patches in macOS Tahoe 26.1, macOS Sequoia 15.7.2, macOS Sonoma 14.8.2, and corresponding updates for iOS, iPadOS, tvOS, watchOS, and visionOS to address this issue by improving symlink validation mechanisms. No known exploits have been reported in the wild, but the medium CVSS score of 5.5 reflects the potential for sensitive data exposure if exploited. The vulnerability requires local privilege but no user interaction, making it a concern for environments where untrusted or less trusted apps may be installed or run.

For European organizations, the primary impact of CVE-2025-43379 is the potential unauthorized disclosure of protected user data on Apple devices. This could lead to leakage of sensitive personal or corporate information, violating data protection regulations such as GDPR. Confidentiality breaches could undermine trust, cause reputational damage, and result in regulatory penalties. Since the vulnerability requires local access with low privileges, it is particularly relevant in environments where endpoint security is weak or where users may install untrusted applications. Organizations with a high density of Apple device usage, including corporate laptops, mobile devices, and specialized hardware running Apple OS variants, are at risk. The lack of impact on integrity and availability limits the threat to data exposure rather than system disruption or data manipulation. However, the ability to bypass protections on user data could facilitate further attacks or lateral movement within networks if exploited in combination with other vulnerabilities.

To mitigate CVE-2025-43379, European organizations should prioritize deploying the Apple security updates that address this vulnerability, specifically macOS Tahoe 26.1, Sequoia 15.7.2, Sonoma 14.8.2, and the corresponding 26.1 versions of iOS, iPadOS, tvOS, watchOS, and visionOS. Beyond patching, organizations should enforce strict application control policies to limit installation and execution of untrusted or unnecessary local applications, reducing the risk of local exploitation. Endpoint protection solutions should be configured to detect suspicious symlink manipulations or attempts to access protected directories. User privilege management should be tightened to minimize the number of users with local privileges that could exploit this vulnerability. Regular audits of installed applications and monitoring for anomalous file access patterns can help detect exploitation attempts. Additionally, educating users about the risks of installing unverified apps and maintaining strong device management policies will reduce exposure.