CVE-2025-43498 is an authorization vulnerability identified in Apple’s macOS and related operating systems, including iOS, iPadOS, and visionOS. The root cause is an authorization issue due to improper state management, classified under CWE-284 (Improper Access Control). This flaw allows a local application to bypass intended authorization controls and access sensitive user data without possessing elevated privileges. The vulnerability requires local access to the device and user interaction, such as granting permissions or triggering specific app behaviors. The CVSS 3.1 base score is 5.5 (medium severity), reflecting that the attack vector is local (AV:L), with low attack complexity (AC:L), no privileges required (PR:N), but user interaction is necessary (UI:R). The impact is primarily on confidentiality (C:H), with no impact on integrity or availability. Apple has fixed this issue by improving state management in authorization checks in macOS Tahoe 26.1, macOS Sequoia 15.7.2, macOS Sonoma 14.8.2, iOS 26.1, iPadOS 26.1, and visionOS 26.1. No known exploits have been reported in the wild, indicating limited active exploitation at this time. The vulnerability could allow malicious or compromised apps to access sensitive user data, potentially leading to privacy breaches or data leakage. Since the flaw requires local access and user interaction, remote exploitation is not feasible, but insider threats or social engineering attacks could leverage this vulnerability.

For European organizations, the primary impact is the potential unauthorized disclosure of sensitive user data on Apple devices. This could affect employee privacy, intellectual property, and compliance with data protection regulations such as GDPR. Organizations with a significant number of Apple devices, especially in sectors handling sensitive information (finance, healthcare, government), could face increased risk of data leakage. The vulnerability does not affect system integrity or availability, so operational disruption is unlikely. However, the confidentiality breach could lead to reputational damage, regulatory fines, and loss of customer trust. Since exploitation requires local access and user interaction, the threat is more relevant in environments where endpoint security controls are lax or where users might be tricked into interacting with malicious apps. The absence of known exploits in the wild reduces immediate risk but does not eliminate the need for timely patching and vigilance.

1. Deploy the latest Apple OS updates immediately: macOS Tahoe 26.1, macOS Sequoia 15.7.2, macOS Sonoma 14.8.2, iOS 26.1, iPadOS 26.1, and visionOS 26.1 contain the fix for this vulnerability. 2. Restrict installation of applications to trusted sources such as the Apple App Store and enforce app notarization policies to reduce the risk of malicious apps. 3. Implement endpoint security solutions that monitor and restrict unauthorized app behaviors and access to sensitive data. 4. Educate users about the risks of interacting with untrusted applications and social engineering tactics that could trigger exploitation. 5. Use Mobile Device Management (MDM) tools to enforce security policies, control app permissions, and ensure devices remain updated. 6. Conduct regular audits of installed applications and permissions on corporate Apple devices to detect anomalies. 7. Limit local access to devices through physical security controls and strong authentication mechanisms to reduce insider threat risks.