CVE-2025-43477 is a privacy-related vulnerability identified in Apple macOS that allows an application to access sensitive user data due to inadequate redaction of private information in system log entries. The vulnerability arises because logs generated by the operating system contain sensitive user data that is not sufficiently anonymized or redacted, enabling malicious or unauthorized applications to read these logs and extract confidential information. Apple addressed this issue by enhancing the private data redaction mechanisms in log entries, releasing patches in macOS Sonoma 14.8.2 and macOS Sequoia 15.7.2. The affected versions are unspecified but include versions prior to these patches. There are no known exploits in the wild as of the publication date, indicating that active exploitation has not been observed yet. The vulnerability primarily impacts the confidentiality of user data, as unauthorized access to sensitive information could lead to privacy breaches or further targeted attacks. The flaw does not appear to affect system integrity or availability directly. Exploitation likely requires an app to have some level of access to system logs, which may be possible through legitimate app permissions or privilege escalation. The vulnerability was reserved in April 2025 and published in November 2025, reflecting a relatively recent discovery and fix. No CVSS score has been assigned, but the nature of the vulnerability suggests a significant privacy risk. This issue highlights the importance of strict data handling and redaction policies within operating system components that generate logs accessible to user-space applications.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a significant privacy risk as it could allow malicious or compromised applications to access sensitive user data stored in system logs. Organizations that rely heavily on Apple macOS devices, including enterprises, government agencies, and critical infrastructure operators, may face exposure of confidential information such as personal identifiers, credentials, or usage patterns. This could lead to data breaches, regulatory non-compliance (e.g., GDPR violations), reputational damage, and potential targeted attacks leveraging the leaked information. The impact is particularly critical for sectors handling sensitive personal or business data, such as finance, healthcare, and public administration. Since the vulnerability affects confidentiality without impacting system integrity or availability, the primary concern is unauthorized data disclosure. The absence of known exploits in the wild reduces immediate risk but does not eliminate the threat, especially as attackers may develop exploits targeting this flaw. European organizations with macOS deployments should consider this vulnerability a high priority for patching and risk mitigation to prevent potential data leakage and comply with privacy regulations.

To mitigate CVE-2025-43477, European organizations should take the following specific actions: 1) Immediately update all macOS devices to the patched versions macOS Sonoma 14.8.2 or macOS Sequoia 15.7.2 to ensure the improved private data redaction is applied. 2) Audit and restrict application permissions to access system logs, limiting the ability of apps to read sensitive log entries. 3) Implement endpoint security solutions that monitor and control app behavior, detecting unauthorized attempts to access or exfiltrate log data. 4) Educate users and administrators about the risks of installing untrusted applications that may exploit this vulnerability. 5) Review and enhance internal policies regarding log data handling and access controls to minimize exposure. 6) Monitor security advisories from Apple and threat intelligence sources for any emerging exploits or additional mitigations. 7) For organizations with sensitive data, consider deploying additional data loss prevention (DLP) tools to detect unusual data access patterns. These measures go beyond generic patching by focusing on access control, monitoring, and user awareness to reduce the attack surface and potential exploitation avenues.