CVE-2025-43479 is a permissions-related vulnerability in Apple macOS that allows an application to access sensitive user data improperly. The root cause is a permissions issue that was addressed by Apple through additional restrictions in macOS Sequoia 15.7.2, macOS Tahoe 26.1, and macOS Sonoma 14.8.2. The vulnerability is categorized under CWE-200 (Exposure of Sensitive Information to an Unauthorized Actor). According to the CVSS v3.1 vector (AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N), exploitation requires local access (AV:L), low attack complexity (AC:L), no privileges (PR:N), and user interaction (UI:R). The scope remains unchanged (S:U), and the impact is high on confidentiality (C:H) but none on integrity or availability. This means an unprivileged app, with user interaction, can read sensitive data it should not access, potentially exposing personal or corporate information. No known exploits have been reported in the wild, indicating limited active exploitation at this time. The affected versions are unspecified but presumably include macOS versions prior to the patched releases. The vulnerability highlights the importance of strict permission enforcement in operating systems to prevent unauthorized data access by applications.

For European organizations, the primary impact is the unauthorized exposure of sensitive user data on macOS devices. This could include personal information, credentials, or corporate data stored or accessible on the device. Since the vulnerability requires local access and user interaction, the risk is higher in environments where users may install untrusted applications or open malicious files. Confidentiality breaches could lead to data leaks, regulatory non-compliance (e.g., GDPR), and reputational damage. The lack of impact on integrity and availability limits the threat to data exposure rather than system disruption or data manipulation. Organizations with significant macOS deployments, especially in sectors handling sensitive data such as finance, healthcare, and government, may face increased risk. The absence of known exploits reduces immediate threat but does not eliminate the need for prompt remediation.

1. Apply the official patches by upgrading to macOS Sequoia 15.7.2, Tahoe 26.1, or Sonoma 14.8.2 as soon as possible to eliminate the vulnerability. 2. Restrict installation of applications to trusted sources only, using Apple’s Gatekeeper and notarization features to reduce the risk of malicious apps exploiting this flaw. 3. Educate users to avoid interacting with untrusted applications or links that could trigger exploitation. 4. Implement endpoint security solutions capable of monitoring and restricting application behaviors that attempt unauthorized data access. 5. Regularly audit application permissions and remove unnecessary access rights to sensitive data. 6. Employ device management policies to enforce security configurations and patch compliance across macOS devices. 7. Monitor for unusual local activity that could indicate attempts to exploit local vulnerabilities. These steps go beyond generic advice by focusing on user behavior, application control, and proactive patch management tailored to macOS environments.