CVE-2025-43396 is a logic vulnerability in Apple macOS's sandboxing mechanism that allows a sandboxed application to potentially access sensitive user data beyond its intended permissions. Sandboxing is a security feature designed to isolate applications and restrict their access to system resources and user data. This flaw arises from insufficient or flawed logic checks within the sandbox enforcement code, which can be bypassed by a malicious or compromised sandboxed app. The vulnerability affects macOS versions prior to Sonoma 14.8.2 and Sequoia 15.7.2, where Apple has implemented improved checks to address the issue. Although no known exploits are currently reported in the wild, the vulnerability poses a risk because it can lead to unauthorized data disclosure, undermining user privacy and system security. Exploitation requires that a sandboxed app be installed and executed, which implies some level of user interaction or social engineering. The lack of a CVSS score indicates that the vulnerability is newly disclosed and not yet fully evaluated, but the potential impact on confidentiality is significant. The vulnerability does not appear to require elevated privileges or authentication beyond app installation, making it accessible if a malicious app is introduced. This issue highlights the importance of sandbox integrity in macOS security and the risks posed by logic errors in security controls.

For European organizations, the primary impact of CVE-2025-43396 is the potential unauthorized access to sensitive user data by sandboxed applications. This can lead to data breaches involving personal information, intellectual property, or confidential business data. Organizations relying on macOS devices for daily operations, especially those in sectors like finance, healthcare, and technology, face increased risk of data leakage and compliance violations under regulations such as GDPR. The vulnerability could be exploited to bypass sandbox restrictions, undermining trust in application isolation and potentially enabling further attacks or lateral movement within networks. Although no active exploits are known, the risk remains that attackers could develop malware or leverage social engineering to install malicious sandboxed apps. This could result in reputational damage, financial loss, and regulatory penalties. The impact is heightened in environments where users have the ability to install third-party applications without strict controls. Additionally, the vulnerability may affect endpoint security solutions running on macOS if they rely on sandboxing for protection.

1. Immediately apply the security updates macOS Sonoma 14.8.2 and macOS Sequoia 15.7.2 or later, as these contain the fixes for the vulnerability. 2. Enforce strict application installation policies, limiting users to trusted sources such as the Apple App Store and verified enterprise apps. 3. Implement application whitelisting and endpoint protection solutions that can detect and block suspicious sandboxed app behavior. 4. Educate users about the risks of installing untrusted applications and the importance of verifying app legitimacy. 5. Monitor system logs and network activity for anomalies that may indicate attempts to exploit sandbox weaknesses. 6. Use Mobile Device Management (MDM) tools to centrally manage macOS devices and enforce security configurations. 7. Regularly audit installed applications and remove any unnecessary or suspicious sandboxed apps. 8. Consider additional data protection controls such as encryption and data loss prevention (DLP) to mitigate the impact of potential data exposure.