CVE-2025-43509 is a vulnerability identified in Apple macOS that allows an application to access sensitive user data due to insufficient data protection mechanisms. The issue was addressed by Apple through improved data protection in macOS Tahoe 26.2, Sequoia 15.7.3, and Sonoma 14.8.3. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-200, indicating an exposure of sensitive information. According to the CVSS 3.1 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 leading to privacy breaches or leakage of confidential information. No exploits are known in the wild, suggesting limited active exploitation currently. The affected versions are unspecified but presumably all versions before the patched releases. The vulnerability highlights a weakness in macOS's data protection model that could be leveraged by malicious or compromised applications installed on the system.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a risk of unauthorized disclosure of sensitive user data on macOS devices. Sectors such as finance, healthcare, legal, and government, which often handle confidential personal or corporate information, could face data breaches impacting privacy and regulatory compliance (e.g., GDPR). Although exploitation requires local access and user interaction, insider threats or social engineering attacks could leverage this flaw to extract sensitive data. The impact on confidentiality could lead to reputational damage, financial loss, and legal consequences. Since integrity and availability are unaffected, operational disruption is unlikely. However, the potential for data leakage necessitates prompt remediation to protect sensitive information and maintain trust. Organizations with macOS endpoints should prioritize patching and review app installation policies to mitigate exposure.

1. Immediately apply the security updates macOS Tahoe 26.2, Sequoia 15.7.3, or Sonoma 14.8.3 to all affected systems to remediate the vulnerability. 2. Restrict installation of applications to trusted sources, such as the Apple App Store or verified developers, to reduce the risk of malicious apps exploiting this flaw. 3. Implement endpoint protection solutions that monitor and control application behavior, particularly for apps requesting access to sensitive data. 4. Educate users on the risks of interacting with untrusted applications and the importance of verifying app legitimacy before granting permissions. 5. Employ strict access controls and user privilege management to limit local access to macOS devices, reducing the attack surface. 6. Conduct regular audits of installed applications and their permissions to detect and remove potentially risky software. 7. Consider deploying Mobile Device Management (MDM) solutions to enforce security policies and automate patch management across macOS endpoints.