CVE-2025-43407 is a vulnerability in Apple’s macOS and related operating systems that allows an application to escape its sandbox environment. The sandbox is a critical security mechanism that restricts app capabilities and access to system resources, thereby limiting potential damage from malicious or compromised apps. This vulnerability stems from insufficiently enforced entitlements, which are permissions granted to apps to access specific system features. By exploiting this flaw, a malicious app can break out of the sandbox, gaining unauthorized access to system resources and potentially executing arbitrary code with elevated privileges. The vulnerability affects multiple Apple OS versions, including macOS Tahoe 26.1, macOS Sequoia 15.7.2, macOS Sonoma 14.8.2, iOS 26.1, iPadOS 26.1, tvOS 26.1, and visionOS 26.1. Apple addressed the issue by improving entitlement enforcement in these updates. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 7.8, indicating high severity, with an attack vector classified as local (AV:L), low attack complexity (AC:L), no privileges required (PR:N), user interaction required (UI:R), and impacts on confidentiality, integrity, and availability all rated high (C:H/I:H/A:H). This means an attacker needs local access and user interaction to exploit the vulnerability but can cause significant damage once exploited. No known exploits are currently reported in the wild, but the potential for serious impact exists if exploited. The underlying weakness is categorized under CWE-284 (Improper Access Control), highlighting that the entitlement enforcement mechanism failed to properly restrict app capabilities. This vulnerability poses a risk of privilege escalation and unauthorized system access, which can lead to data breaches, system manipulation, or denial of service.

For European organizations, this vulnerability presents a significant risk especially to those relying on Apple hardware and software in their IT environments. The ability for an app to escape the sandbox can lead to unauthorized access to sensitive corporate data, intellectual property theft, and disruption of critical services. Sectors such as finance, healthcare, government, and technology firms that use macOS or iOS devices extensively could face data confidentiality breaches and operational interruptions. The high integrity and availability impact means attackers could modify or delete critical data or disrupt system functionality, potentially causing business downtime and reputational damage. Since exploitation requires local access and user interaction, insider threats or social engineering attacks could be vectors for exploitation. The lack of known exploits in the wild currently reduces immediate risk, but the presence of a public CVE and high severity score means attackers may develop exploits soon. European organizations must consider the risk of targeted attacks leveraging this vulnerability, especially in environments where Apple devices are used for sensitive operations or remote work. Failure to patch promptly could expose organizations to advanced persistent threats (APTs) or malware that leverages sandbox escape to gain deeper system control.

1. Immediately apply the security updates released by Apple for macOS Tahoe 26.1, Sequoia 15.7.2, Sonoma 14.8.2, iOS 26.1, iPadOS 26.1, tvOS 26.1, and visionOS 26.1 to ensure the improved entitlement enforcement is in place. 2. Implement strict application whitelisting and only allow apps from trusted sources, such as the Apple App Store, to reduce the risk of malicious apps gaining local access. 3. Educate users about the risks of installing untrusted applications and the importance of avoiding suspicious links or files that could lead to local compromise. 4. Monitor endpoint behavior for unusual app activities that could indicate sandbox escape attempts, including unexpected privilege escalations or access to restricted system resources. 5. Employ endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions capable of detecting anomalous local processes and sandbox escape techniques. 6. Limit local user privileges where possible to reduce the impact of user interaction-based exploits. 7. Regularly audit and review app entitlements and permissions to ensure no unnecessary privileges are granted. 8. For organizations with sensitive data, consider network segmentation to isolate Apple devices and limit lateral movement if compromise occurs. 9. Maintain up-to-date backups and incident response plans to quickly recover from potential exploitation. 10. Stay informed on threat intelligence updates regarding any emerging exploits targeting this vulnerability.