CVE-2025-43411 is a vulnerability in Apple macOS identified as CWE-200 (Exposure of Sensitive Information to an Unauthorized Actor). The root cause is insufficient entitlement checks within the operating system, which may allow a malicious or compromised application to access user-sensitive data without proper authorization. The vulnerability affects macOS versions prior to Sequoia 15.7.2, Sonoma 14.8.2, and Tahoe 26.1, where Apple has implemented additional entitlement verification to prevent unauthorized data access. The CVSS 3.1 base score is 5.5 (medium severity), with the vector AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N indicating that exploitation requires local access (AV:L), low attack complexity (AC:L), no privileges (PR:N), user interaction (UI:R), and impacts confidentiality (C:H) but not integrity or availability. This means an attacker must convince a user to run a malicious app locally, which then can access sensitive data improperly. No public exploits or active exploitation have been reported to date. The vulnerability highlights the importance of strict entitlement enforcement in macOS to protect user privacy and data confidentiality.

The primary impact of CVE-2025-43411 is the unauthorized disclosure of sensitive user data on affected macOS systems. This can lead to privacy violations, leakage of personal or corporate confidential information, and potential downstream attacks such as identity theft or targeted phishing. Since the vulnerability does not affect integrity or availability, it does not allow data modification or system disruption. However, the ability for an unprivileged app to access sensitive data undermines user trust and could expose organizations to compliance risks, especially those handling regulated data. The requirement for local access and user interaction limits remote exploitation but does not eliminate risk in environments where users may install untrusted applications or where attackers have physical or remote desktop access. Organizations with macOS endpoints in sensitive roles or handling critical data are at higher risk.

Organizations should promptly update all affected macOS devices to versions Sequoia 15.7.2, Sonoma 14.8.2, or Tahoe 26.1 or later, where the entitlement checks have been strengthened. Beyond patching, enforce strict application control policies such as Apple’s notarization and Gatekeeper to prevent installation of untrusted or malicious applications. Educate users about the risks of installing unknown apps and the importance of verifying app sources. Employ endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions to monitor for suspicious local app behaviors indicative of unauthorized data access. Regularly audit installed applications and entitlements to detect anomalies. For highly sensitive environments, consider restricting local user privileges and using mobile device management (MDM) solutions to enforce security policies and patch compliance. Finally, monitor Apple security advisories for any updates or emerging exploit reports related to this vulnerability.