CVE-2025-43468 is a security vulnerability identified in Intel-based Apple macOS systems that arises from a downgrade issue related to code-signing enforcement. Code-signing is a security mechanism used by Apple to ensure that only trusted and verified applications run on macOS. This vulnerability allows an attacker to bypass these code-signing restrictions by exploiting the downgrade flaw, enabling a malicious app to gain unauthorized access to sensitive user data. The issue was addressed by Apple in the security updates macOS Sonoma 14.8.2 and macOS Sequoia 15.7.2, which introduced additional code-signing restrictions to prevent such bypasses. The vulnerability affects unspecified versions prior to these patches and does not require user interaction or authentication, increasing its risk profile. Although no known exploits have been reported in the wild, the potential for data exposure is significant, especially in environments where sensitive or regulated information is stored on Intel-based Macs. The lack of a CVSS score means severity must be assessed based on the impact on confidentiality, ease of exploitation, and scope of affected systems. Since the vulnerability allows unauthorized access to sensitive data without user interaction, it represents a high-severity threat. The technical root cause is a downgrade attack vector that weakens the code-signing enforcement, a critical security control in macOS. This vulnerability highlights the importance of maintaining up-to-date systems and robust application vetting processes to prevent exploitation.

The primary impact of CVE-2025-43468 is the potential unauthorized access to sensitive user data on Intel-based macOS systems. For European organizations, this could lead to significant confidentiality breaches, especially in sectors such as finance, healthcare, legal, and government where sensitive personal or corporate data is handled. Data leakage could result in regulatory penalties under GDPR, loss of customer trust, and potential financial losses. The vulnerability does not appear to affect system integrity or availability directly but compromises the trust model of the macOS platform by allowing untrusted apps to bypass code-signing protections. Since many European organizations use Apple hardware for executive, creative, or development roles, the attack surface is non-trivial. The absence of known exploits in the wild reduces immediate risk but does not eliminate the threat, as attackers may develop exploits targeting unpatched systems. The impact is heightened by the fact that exploitation does not require user interaction or authentication, making automated or stealthy attacks feasible. Overall, the vulnerability poses a high risk to confidentiality and organizational security posture in Europe.

1. Immediate deployment of the security updates macOS Sonoma 14.8.2 and macOS Sequoia 15.7.2 on all Intel-based Mac systems to ensure the vulnerability is patched. 2. Conduct an inventory of all Apple devices in use within the organization to identify those running vulnerable macOS versions. 3. Enforce strict application control policies, including restricting installation of apps from unverified sources and leveraging Apple’s notarization and code-signing verification features. 4. Monitor system logs and security tools for unusual app behavior or unauthorized access attempts that could indicate exploitation attempts. 5. Educate users about the risks of installing untrusted applications and encourage reporting of suspicious activity. 6. Implement endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions capable of detecting anomalous access patterns on macOS devices. 7. Review and tighten permissions granted to applications, minimizing access to sensitive data where possible. 8. For organizations with high security requirements, consider network segmentation and data encryption to limit exposure even if a device is compromised. 9. Maintain regular backups of critical data to mitigate potential data loss scenarios. 10. Stay informed about any emerging exploit reports or additional patches from Apple.