CVE-2025-43411 is a vulnerability in Apple macOS that allows an application to access user-sensitive data due to insufficient entitlement checks. Entitlements in macOS are security mechanisms that restrict app capabilities and access to system resources or user data. This vulnerability arises when an app bypasses these entitlement checks, enabling unauthorized access to sensitive information stored or managed by the operating system. The issue affects multiple macOS versions prior to the patched releases: macOS Sequoia 15.7.2, macOS Tahoe 26.1, and macOS Sonoma 14.8.2. The weakness is classified under CWE-200 (Exposure of Sensitive Information to an Unauthorized Actor). According to the CVSS v3.1 vector, the attack requires local access (AV:L), has low complexity (AC:L), requires no privileges (PR:N), but does require user interaction (UI:R). The scope is unchanged (S:U), and the impact is high on confidentiality (C:H), with no impact on integrity (I:N) or availability (A:N). This means an attacker with local access and the ability to trick a user into running a malicious app could extract sensitive data without altering or disrupting system operations. Apple addressed this by implementing additional entitlement checks to ensure only properly authorized apps can access sensitive user data. There are no known exploits in the wild, but the vulnerability poses a risk especially in environments where users may install untrusted software or where attackers have local access. The lack of privilege requirements lowers the barrier for exploitation, but user interaction is still needed, which somewhat limits mass exploitation. The vulnerability highlights the importance of strict entitlement enforcement in protecting user data on macOS platforms.

For European organizations, this vulnerability primarily threatens the confidentiality of sensitive user data on macOS systems. Organizations in sectors such as finance, healthcare, legal, and government that handle regulated or confidential information are at higher risk if their employees use vulnerable macOS versions. The ability for a local app to access sensitive data without proper authorization could lead to data leakage, privacy violations, and compliance issues under regulations like GDPR. Although exploitation requires local access and user interaction, insider threats or social engineering attacks could leverage this vulnerability to extract data. The absence of integrity or availability impact means system stability is not directly threatened, but data confidentiality breaches can have severe reputational and financial consequences. Since macOS is widely used in European creative, technology, and academic sectors, the threat surface is significant. Organizations relying on macOS for critical workflows should prioritize patching to prevent potential data exposure. The lack of known exploits in the wild provides a window for proactive mitigation before active attacks emerge.

1. Immediately update all macOS systems to the patched versions: macOS Sequoia 15.7.2, macOS Tahoe 26.1, or macOS Sonoma 14.8.2. 2. Enforce strict application control policies to restrict installation of untrusted or unsigned applications, reducing the risk of malicious apps exploiting this vulnerability. 3. Conduct user awareness training to prevent social engineering attacks that could trick users into running malicious apps requiring interaction. 4. Audit and monitor installed applications for unusual behavior or unexpected access to sensitive data. 5. Utilize endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions capable of detecting anomalous local app activities related to data access. 6. Implement least privilege principles for user accounts to limit local access where feasible. 7. Regularly review and update entitlement policies and configurations to ensure only authorized apps have access to sensitive data. 8. For organizations with macOS device management, deploy patches and configuration changes via MDM solutions to ensure rapid and consistent remediation. 9. Maintain up-to-date backups and incident response plans to quickly address any data exposure incidents. These steps go beyond generic advice by focusing on controlling local app execution, user interaction risks, and entitlement enforcement specific to macOS environments.