CVE-2025-43403 is an authorization vulnerability identified in Apple macOS, specifically addressed in versions Sequoia 15.7.4 and Sonoma 14.8.4. The root cause is an authorization issue due to inadequate state management within the operating system, which may allow a malicious or compromised application to access sensitive user data without proper permissions. The vulnerability does not require any privileges (PR:N) but does require user interaction (UI:R), such as the user launching or interacting with the malicious app. The attack vector is local (AV:L), meaning the attacker must have local access to the system. The vulnerability impacts confidentiality (C:H) but does not affect integrity (I:N) or availability (A:N). The weakness corresponds to CWE-285, which relates to improper authorization. Although no exploits are currently known in the wild, the vulnerability presents a risk of unauthorized data disclosure if exploited. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 5.5, indicating a medium severity level. The issue was reserved in April 2025 and published in February 2026, with Apple providing patches in the specified macOS versions. The lack of patch links suggests users should obtain updates directly from official Apple channels.

The primary impact of CVE-2025-43403 is the unauthorized disclosure of sensitive user data on affected macOS systems. This can lead to privacy breaches, exposure of personal or corporate information, and potential downstream attacks leveraging the accessed data. Since exploitation requires local access and user interaction, the threat is somewhat limited to scenarios where an attacker can convince or trick a user into running a malicious app or code. However, in environments with shared or multi-user systems, or where insider threats exist, the risk increases. The vulnerability does not affect system integrity or availability, so it is less likely to cause system crashes or data tampering. Organizations relying on macOS for sensitive operations, especially in sectors like finance, healthcare, and government, could face reputational damage and compliance issues if sensitive data is exposed. The absence of known exploits in the wild reduces immediate risk but does not eliminate the potential for future attacks.

To mitigate CVE-2025-43403, organizations and users should promptly apply the security updates provided by Apple in macOS Sequoia 15.7.4 and Sonoma 14.8.4 or later. Beyond patching, organizations should enforce strict application control policies, such as using Apple’s Gatekeeper and notarization features to prevent untrusted apps from running. Employ endpoint protection solutions that monitor for suspicious local application behavior and unauthorized data access attempts. Educate users about the risks of running unverified applications and the importance of cautious interaction with software prompts. Implement least privilege principles to limit user permissions and reduce the impact of potential exploitation. Regularly audit installed applications and remove unnecessary or untrusted software. For high-security environments, consider using macOS’s built-in privacy controls to restrict app access to sensitive data and monitor system logs for unusual access patterns. Finally, maintain an incident response plan to quickly address any suspected data exposure.