CVE-2025-43397 is a permissions-related vulnerability in Apple macOS operating systems that can be exploited by a local application to cause a denial-of-service (DoS) condition. The root cause stems from improper authorization controls (CWE-863), allowing an app with limited privileges to trigger a system disruption. The vulnerability does not compromise confidentiality or integrity but impacts availability by potentially crashing or halting critical system components. Exploitation requires local access with low privileges (PR:L), no user interaction (UI:N), and has low attack complexity (AC:L). The vulnerability affects multiple macOS versions prior to Sequoia 15.7.2, Sonoma 14.8.2, and Tahoe 26.1, where Apple removed the vulnerable code to mitigate the issue. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 5.5 (medium), reflecting the limited scope and impact. No public exploits have been reported, but the vulnerability poses a risk to systems where malicious or compromised local apps can be executed. This vulnerability highlights the importance of strict authorization checks within macOS to prevent local privilege abuse leading to service disruption.

The primary impact of CVE-2025-43397 is denial-of-service, which can interrupt normal operations on affected macOS systems. For organizations, this could mean temporary loss of availability of critical workstations or servers running macOS, potentially disrupting business processes, user productivity, or service delivery. While the vulnerability does not allow data theft or modification, the DoS condition could be leveraged in targeted attacks to degrade system reliability or as part of a larger multi-stage attack. Environments with many macOS endpoints, such as creative industries, software development firms, and enterprises with Apple hardware, are particularly at risk. The requirement for local access limits remote exploitation, but insider threats or malware that gains local execution could exploit this flaw. The absence of known exploits reduces immediate risk but unpatched systems remain vulnerable to future attacks.

Organizations should promptly apply the security updates released by Apple in macOS Sequoia 15.7.2, Sonoma 14.8.2, and Tahoe 26.1 to eliminate the vulnerable code. Beyond patching, restrict local application execution rights to trusted software only, employing application whitelisting or endpoint protection solutions to prevent untrusted apps from running. Monitor system logs for unusual app behavior or crashes that could indicate exploitation attempts. Implement least privilege principles to limit app permissions and reduce the attack surface. Conduct regular audits of installed applications and user privileges on macOS devices. For high-security environments, consider additional endpoint detection and response (EDR) tools capable of detecting anomalous local activity that might precede a DoS attack. Maintain up-to-date backups and incident response plans to quickly recover from potential service disruptions.