CVE-2025-43469 is a permissions-related vulnerability in Apple macOS that allows an application with limited privileges (local access and low privileges) to access sensitive user data without requiring user interaction. The issue stems from insufficient restrictions on app permissions, enabling unauthorized data access. Apple addressed this vulnerability by implementing additional permission restrictions in macOS Sequoia 15.7.2, macOS Tahoe 26.1, and macOS Sonoma 14.8.2. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 5.5, reflecting a medium severity level. The attack vector is local (AV:L), requiring low attack complexity (AC:L) and low privileges (PR:L), with no user interaction (UI:N). The impact is primarily on confidentiality (C:H), with no impact on integrity (I:N) or availability (A:N). The vulnerability is categorized under CWE-359, which relates to exposure of sensitive information due to improper permissions or access control. No known exploits have been reported in the wild, but the vulnerability could be leveraged by malicious local apps or attackers who gain limited access to a system to extract sensitive data. The affected versions are unspecified but include macOS versions prior to the patched releases. This vulnerability highlights the importance of strict permission enforcement in modern operating systems to protect user data from unauthorized local applications.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a risk of sensitive data exposure on macOS devices, which could include corporate laptops, desktops, and potentially servers running macOS. Confidentiality breaches could lead to leakage of personal data, intellectual property, or other sensitive information, potentially violating GDPR and other data protection regulations. Although exploitation requires local access and low privileges, insider threats or malware that gains foothold on a device could exploit this flaw. The absence of integrity or availability impact limits the scope to data confidentiality. Organizations relying heavily on macOS endpoints for critical operations or handling sensitive data are at higher risk. The lack of known exploits reduces immediate threat but does not eliminate the risk of future exploitation. Failure to patch could result in compliance issues and reputational damage if sensitive data is compromised.

1. Immediately apply the security updates macOS Sequoia 15.7.2, Tahoe 26.1, or Sonoma 14.8.2 as applicable to all macOS devices within the organization. 2. Enforce strict application control policies to limit installation and execution of untrusted or unnecessary applications, reducing the attack surface for local privilege exploitation. 3. Implement endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions capable of monitoring for suspicious local app behaviors indicative of unauthorized data access. 4. Restrict user privileges to the minimum necessary, avoiding granting elevated rights that could facilitate exploitation. 5. Conduct regular audits of installed applications and permissions to identify and remediate potential risks. 6. Educate users on the risks of installing untrusted software and the importance of applying updates promptly. 7. For highly sensitive environments, consider additional data encryption and access controls to limit exposure even if local access is gained. 8. Monitor vendor advisories for any emerging exploit reports or additional patches related to this vulnerability.