CVE-2025-43466 is an injection vulnerability in Apple macOS identified under CWE-95, which involves improper neutralization of directives in dynamically evaluated code. This vulnerability arises from insufficient validation of input data, allowing a local application with limited privileges (PR:L) to execute code or commands that can access sensitive user data. The vulnerability does not require user interaction (UI:N) and affects confidentiality (C:H) but does not affect integrity or availability (I:N/A:N). The attack vector is local (AV:L), meaning an attacker must have local access to the system, such as through a compromised user account or malicious app installation. The vulnerability was addressed by Apple in macOS Tahoe 26.1 through improved input validation mechanisms. Although no known exploits have been reported in the wild, the medium CVSS score of 5.5 reflects the moderate risk posed by this vulnerability due to the requirement for local access and limited privileges. The vulnerability could be leveraged by attackers to extract sensitive user data, potentially leading to privacy breaches or further lateral movement within targeted environments. The lack of user interaction requirement increases the risk of automated exploitation once local access is obtained. This vulnerability highlights the importance of rigorous input validation in preventing injection attacks that compromise data confidentiality.

For European organizations, the primary impact of CVE-2025-43466 is the potential unauthorized disclosure of sensitive user data on macOS devices. This could affect personal information, credentials, or proprietary data stored or accessible on compromised machines. Organizations with macOS endpoints, especially in sectors handling sensitive data such as finance, healthcare, and government, may face increased risks of data breaches. The local access requirement limits remote exploitation but does not eliminate risk, as insider threats or malware that gains local foothold could exploit this vulnerability. The absence of integrity and availability impact reduces the risk of system disruption but does not mitigate the confidentiality concerns. Given the widespread use of macOS in European corporate environments and among knowledge workers, exploitation could lead to compliance issues with GDPR and other data protection regulations. Additionally, the vulnerability could be leveraged as a stepping stone for more complex attacks within a network, increasing overall organizational risk.

1. Immediately update all macOS devices to version Tahoe 26.1 or later where the vulnerability is patched. 2. Enforce strict application installation policies to limit the introduction of untrusted or unsigned apps that could exploit local vulnerabilities. 3. Implement endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions capable of monitoring for suspicious local activity indicative of exploitation attempts. 4. Conduct regular audits of user privileges and restrict local access rights to the minimum necessary to reduce the attack surface. 5. Educate users about the risks of installing unauthorized software and the importance of reporting suspicious behavior. 6. Utilize macOS security features such as System Integrity Protection (SIP) and sandboxing to limit app capabilities. 7. Monitor logs for unusual access to sensitive data or anomalous application behavior that may indicate exploitation. 8. Integrate vulnerability management processes to ensure timely patch deployment and verification across all macOS endpoints.