CVE-2025-43461 is a vulnerability in Apple macOS related to improper validation of symbolic links (CWE-59). Symbolic links are filesystem objects that point to other files or directories. The vulnerability allows a local application running with limited privileges (low privilege) to exploit this improper validation to access protected user data that should normally be inaccessible. Specifically, the flaw arises because the operating system fails to correctly validate symlinks when accessed by an app, potentially allowing the app to traverse symlinks to reach sensitive files. This can lead to unauthorized disclosure of confidential user data without modifying it or affecting system availability. The vulnerability does not require user interaction and does not elevate privileges beyond the app's existing rights, but it does require local access to the system. Apple fixed this issue in macOS Tahoe 26.1 by implementing improved symlink validation mechanisms that prevent unauthorized traversal and access. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 5.5 (medium severity), reflecting the local attack vector, low complexity, required privileges, no user interaction, and high confidentiality impact. No known exploits have been reported in the wild as of the publication date. The vulnerability affects unspecified versions of macOS prior to the Tahoe 26.1 release.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a risk of unauthorized disclosure of sensitive user data on macOS endpoints. Organizations with employees or systems running vulnerable macOS versions could see confidentiality breaches if a malicious or compromised local app exploits this flaw. This is particularly concerning for sectors handling sensitive personal or corporate data, such as finance, healthcare, and government. While the attack requires local access, insider threats or malware that gains local execution could leverage this vulnerability to exfiltrate protected data. The impact is limited to confidentiality; integrity and availability are not affected. The medium severity score indicates a moderate risk, but the potential for data leakage could have regulatory and reputational consequences under GDPR and other data protection laws. The lack of remote exploitability reduces the attack surface but does not eliminate risk in environments with shared or multi-user systems.

1. Immediately update all macOS systems to macOS Tahoe 26.1 or later, where the vulnerability is fixed. 2. Enforce strict application installation policies to limit local app installations to trusted and verified sources, reducing the risk of malicious apps exploiting the flaw. 3. Implement endpoint protection solutions capable of detecting suspicious local app behaviors, including attempts to access protected files via symlink traversal. 4. Regularly audit local user permissions and installed applications to identify and remove unnecessary or potentially risky software. 5. Educate users and administrators about the risks of running untrusted local applications and the importance of applying security updates promptly. 6. For sensitive environments, consider additional filesystem monitoring to detect anomalous symlink access patterns. 7. Employ macOS security features such as System Integrity Protection (SIP) and sandboxing to limit app capabilities further.