CVE-2025-43402 is a memory handling vulnerability in Apple macOS that allows a malicious application to cause unexpected system termination or corrupt process memory. The root cause lies in improper memory management within macOS components, which can be triggered by an app, leading to instability or potential exploitation avenues. While the exact affected macOS versions are unspecified, the issue is resolved in macOS Tahoe 26.1 through improved memory handling techniques. The vulnerability could be exploited locally by an app without requiring elevated privileges or user interaction, potentially resulting in denial of service via system crashes or memory corruption that might be leveraged for privilege escalation or arbitrary code execution. No known exploits are currently in the wild, but the risk remains due to the nature of memory corruption vulnerabilities. The lack of a CVSS score indicates that detailed impact metrics are not yet available, but the threat is significant given the potential for system-wide disruption. This vulnerability highlights the importance of robust memory management in operating systems and the risks posed by malicious applications targeting such flaws.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a risk of system instability and denial of service on macOS devices, which could disrupt business operations, especially in sectors relying heavily on Apple hardware such as creative industries, finance, and government agencies. Memory corruption could also be a stepping stone for more severe attacks like privilege escalation or arbitrary code execution, potentially compromising sensitive data confidentiality and integrity. Organizations using macOS in critical infrastructure or for sensitive workloads may face increased risk of operational disruption or targeted attacks. The absence of known exploits currently reduces immediate risk, but the vulnerability's presence in widely used systems means attackers could develop exploits, increasing threat levels. The impact is magnified in environments with mixed OS deployments where macOS devices interface with other critical systems, potentially serving as an entry point for broader network compromise.

European organizations should prioritize updating all macOS devices to macOS Tahoe 26.1 or later to apply the patch that fixes this vulnerability. Implement strict application control policies to limit the installation and execution of untrusted or unsigned applications that could exploit this flaw. Employ endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions capable of monitoring for abnormal application behavior indicative of memory corruption attempts. Conduct regular security audits and vulnerability assessments focusing on macOS endpoints. Educate users about the risks of installing unauthorized applications and encourage reporting of unusual system behavior. Network segmentation can limit the impact of compromised macOS devices on broader infrastructure. Additionally, maintain up-to-date backups to recover quickly from potential denial of service or system crashes caused by exploitation attempts. Monitoring Apple security advisories for any updates or exploit disclosures related to this CVE is also recommended.