CVE-2025-43477 is a privacy vulnerability identified in Apple macOS that stems from inadequate redaction of sensitive user data within system log entries. This flaw allows a local application to access sensitive information that should have been protected, potentially exposing private user data. The vulnerability is categorized under CWE-284, indicating an authorization issue where access controls are insufficient. The affected macOS versions include those prior to the patched releases: macOS Sequoia 15.7.2, macOS Tahoe 26.1, and macOS Sonoma 14.8.2. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 5.5 (medium severity), with an attack vector of local (AV:L), low attack complexity (AC:L), no privileges required (PR:N), user interaction required (UI:R), unchanged scope (S:U), high confidentiality impact (C:H), and no impact on integrity or availability (I:N/A:N). This means an attacker must have local access and trick a user into interacting with a malicious app to exploit the vulnerability. The vulnerability does not affect system integrity or availability but compromises confidentiality by exposing sensitive user data through logs that were not properly redacted. Apple addressed this issue by improving private data redaction in log entries in the specified macOS updates. There are currently no known exploits in the wild, but the vulnerability poses a risk especially in environments where untrusted or malicious applications can be installed or executed. The issue highlights the importance of robust access controls and data handling policies within operating system components that manage sensitive information.

For European organizations, the primary impact of CVE-2025-43477 is the potential unauthorized disclosure of sensitive user data, which could include personally identifiable information or other confidential details logged by the system. This exposure can lead to privacy violations, regulatory non-compliance (e.g., GDPR), and reputational damage. Since exploitation requires local access and user interaction, the threat is more significant in environments where endpoint security is lax or where users may install untrusted applications. Organizations with macOS-based workstations, especially in sectors handling sensitive data such as finance, healthcare, and government, face increased risk. The confidentiality breach could facilitate further attacks, social engineering, or insider threats. However, the lack of integrity or availability impact limits the scope to data privacy rather than system disruption. The absence of known exploits reduces immediate risk but does not eliminate the need for prompt remediation. Overall, the vulnerability underscores the need for strict endpoint security controls and timely patch management in European enterprises using macOS.

1. Immediately apply the security updates provided by Apple: macOS Sequoia 15.7.2, macOS Tahoe 26.1, and macOS Sonoma 14.8.2 or later versions to ensure the vulnerability is patched. 2. Restrict installation of applications to trusted sources only, leveraging Apple’s notarization and Gatekeeper features to reduce the risk of malicious apps exploiting this vulnerability. 3. Implement strict endpoint security policies that limit local user privileges and prevent unauthorized software execution. 4. Educate users about the risks of installing untrusted applications and the importance of cautious user interaction to mitigate exploitation vectors requiring user action. 5. Monitor system logs and audit trails for unusual access patterns or attempts to read sensitive log entries, using endpoint detection and response (EDR) tools. 6. Employ application whitelisting and sandboxing to contain potential malicious apps and limit their access to sensitive system components. 7. Regularly review and update privacy and data handling policies to ensure sensitive information is adequately protected at all layers, including logging mechanisms. 8. For organizations with macOS fleet management, use Mobile Device Management (MDM) solutions to enforce patch deployment and security configurations consistently.