CVE-2025-43455 is a privacy vulnerability identified in Apple’s macOS and other Apple operating systems (iOS, iPadOS, watchOS, visionOS) that allows a malicious application to capture screenshots of sensitive information displayed within embedded views. The root cause is insufficient enforcement of privacy checks that should prevent unauthorized screen capture of protected UI elements. This vulnerability falls under CWE-200 (Exposure of Sensitive Information to an Unauthorized Actor). Exploitation requires the attacker to have a malicious app installed locally and to trick the user into interacting with it, as user interaction is required. No elevated privileges are needed, which lowers the barrier for exploitation compared to privilege escalation vulnerabilities. The vulnerability was addressed by Apple in version 26.1 of the affected operating systems, where improved checks prevent unauthorized screenshot capture. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 5.5 (medium severity) with vector AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N, indicating local attack vector, low attack complexity, no privileges required, user interaction required, unchanged scope, high confidentiality impact, and no impact on integrity or availability. No known exploits have been reported in the wild as of publication. This vulnerability primarily threatens the confidentiality of sensitive data displayed in embedded views, such as secure input fields or protected content within apps. The issue affects all versions of macOS prior to Tahoe 26.1 and corresponding versions of other Apple OSes. Organizations relying on Apple devices for sensitive operations may be vulnerable to data leakage if malicious apps bypass app store restrictions or are installed via enterprise or developer provisioning profiles.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a risk of sensitive information leakage from Apple devices, potentially exposing confidential business data, personal information, or intellectual property. Since the vulnerability allows screenshot capture of embedded views, it could be exploited to bypass UI-level protections such as secure input fields, password managers, or confidential document viewers. This could lead to data breaches, regulatory non-compliance (e.g., GDPR), reputational damage, and financial losses. The impact is particularly significant for sectors handling sensitive data, including finance, healthcare, legal, and government agencies. The requirement for local access and user interaction limits remote exploitation but does not eliminate risk, especially in environments where users may install untrusted applications or connect external devices. The lack of known exploits in the wild reduces immediate threat but does not preclude future attacks. Organizations using Apple devices extensively in their infrastructure or BYOD policies should consider this vulnerability a moderate risk to confidentiality.

1. Immediately update all affected Apple operating systems (macOS, iOS, iPadOS, watchOS, visionOS) to version 26.1 or later, where the vulnerability is patched. 2. Enforce strict application installation policies to prevent installation of untrusted or sideloaded apps, including restricting developer provisioning profiles and enterprise app installations. 3. Educate users about the risks of installing apps from unverified sources and the importance of avoiding suspicious prompts requiring interaction. 4. Implement Mobile Device Management (MDM) solutions to control app permissions and monitor device compliance with security policies. 5. Use endpoint protection solutions capable of detecting suspicious local app behaviors that attempt unauthorized screen capture. 6. For highly sensitive environments, consider disabling or limiting the use of embedded views that display confidential information or use additional encryption or obfuscation techniques within apps. 7. Regularly audit and review installed applications and their permissions on Apple devices to identify potential risks. 8. Monitor security advisories from Apple for any updates or related vulnerabilities.