CVE-2025-43416 is a critical security vulnerability identified in Apple macOS operating systems, caused by a logic flaw that improperly restricts access controls. This flaw allows malicious or compromised applications to bypass normal security boundaries and access protected user data without requiring any privileges, authentication, or user interaction. The vulnerability affects multiple macOS versions prior to the patched releases: macOS Tahoe 26.2, macOS Sequoia 15.7.3, and macOS Sonoma 14.8.3. The root cause is a failure in enforcing adequate access control policies (CWE-284), which leads to unauthorized data exposure. The CVSS v3.1 score of 9.8 reflects the vulnerability's criticality, with network attack vector, low attack complexity, no privileges required, no user interaction, and high impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability. Although no exploits have been observed in the wild yet, the severity and ease of exploitation make it a high-risk issue. Apple has addressed the vulnerability by improving restrictions in the affected macOS versions. Organizations running vulnerable macOS versions are exposed to potential data breaches, including theft or manipulation of sensitive user information, which could lead to further compromise or data leakage.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2025-43416 is significant due to the widespread use of Apple macOS in sectors such as finance, media, technology, and government. Unauthorized access to protected user data can lead to severe confidentiality breaches, exposing personal, financial, or intellectual property information. Integrity and availability impacts could arise if attackers manipulate or delete critical data. The vulnerability's network attack vector and lack of required privileges mean attackers can exploit it remotely without user interaction, increasing the risk of large-scale compromise. This could result in regulatory penalties under GDPR for data breaches, reputational damage, and operational disruptions. Organizations relying on macOS for endpoint devices, especially those handling sensitive or regulated data, face heightened risk. The absence of known exploits in the wild provides a window for proactive mitigation, but the critical severity demands urgent attention.

European organizations should immediately deploy the official patches released by Apple: macOS Tahoe 26.2, macOS Sequoia 15.7.3, and macOS Sonoma 14.8.3. Beyond patching, organizations should audit installed applications and restrict app permissions to the minimum necessary, leveraging macOS’s built-in privacy controls and endpoint protection tools. Implement application whitelisting to prevent unauthorized or untrusted apps from executing. Monitor network traffic and system logs for unusual access patterns or data exfiltration attempts related to macOS endpoints. Employ endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions capable of detecting anomalous behavior indicative of exploitation attempts. Educate users about the importance of installing updates promptly and avoiding untrusted software. For high-risk environments, consider network segmentation to limit macOS device exposure. Regularly review and update security policies to incorporate lessons learned from this vulnerability. Finally, maintain an incident response plan tailored to macOS environments to quickly address any exploitation attempts.