CVE-2025-43413 is a vulnerability identified in Apple’s macOS and other Apple operating systems that allows sandboxed applications to bypass intended restrictions and observe system-wide network connections. Normally, sandboxing confines applications to a limited environment, preventing them from accessing sensitive system resources or data belonging to other applications. However, due to insufficient sandbox restrictions (classified under CWE-693: Protection Mechanism Failure and CWE-284: Improper Access Control), a malicious or compromised sandboxed app can monitor network connections across the entire system. This could include metadata about active connections, endpoints, and potentially sensitive communication patterns. The vulnerability has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 7.5, indicating high severity, with an attack vector of network (AV:N), low attack complexity (AC:L), no privileges required (PR:N), and no user interaction (UI:N). The impact is primarily on confidentiality (C:H), with no direct impact on integrity or availability. Apple has released patches in the latest versions of macOS (Tahoe 26.1, Sequoia 15.7.2, Sonoma 14.8.2) and other OSes (iOS, iPadOS, tvOS, watchOS, visionOS 26.1) to add additional sandbox restrictions that prevent this unauthorized observation. No public exploits or active exploitation have been reported yet, but the vulnerability could be leveraged by attackers to gather intelligence on network activity, potentially aiding further attacks or data exfiltration.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a significant confidentiality risk. Attackers exploiting this flaw could monitor network connections system-wide on affected Apple devices, potentially exposing sensitive communication metadata, internal network structures, or endpoints. This could facilitate targeted attacks, espionage, or data leakage. Organizations in sectors such as finance, government, healthcare, and critical infrastructure that rely on Apple devices for secure communications are particularly vulnerable. The ability to exploit this without privileges or user interaction increases the risk of stealthy reconnaissance. Although integrity and availability are not directly impacted, the exposure of network connection information can lead to subsequent attacks that compromise these aspects. The widespread use of Apple devices in European enterprises and public sector environments amplifies the potential impact, especially where compliance with data protection regulations (e.g., GDPR) demands strict confidentiality controls.

European organizations should immediately prioritize updating all affected Apple operating systems to the patched versions: macOS Tahoe 26.1, macOS Sequoia 15.7.2, macOS Sonoma 14.8.2, and the corresponding updates for iOS, iPadOS, tvOS, watchOS, and visionOS 26.1. Beyond patching, organizations should audit and restrict the installation of sandboxed applications to only trusted sources, minimizing the risk of malicious apps exploiting this vulnerability. Implementing endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions capable of monitoring unusual network monitoring or scanning behaviors on Apple devices can help detect exploitation attempts. Network segmentation and strict access controls should be enforced to limit the exposure of sensitive network traffic. Additionally, organizations should review their application whitelisting policies and consider enhanced sandboxing or containerization strategies to further isolate applications. Regular security awareness training for users about the risks of installing untrusted apps can reduce the attack surface. Finally, monitoring Apple security advisories for any updates or exploit disclosures related to this CVE is essential for timely response.