CVE-2025-43513 is a vulnerability in Apple macOS stemming from a permissions issue that allowed applications to access sensitive location information without proper authorization. The root cause relates to improper access control (CWE-284), where an app could bypass intended restrictions and read location data that should have been protected. This vulnerability affects multiple macOS versions prior to the patched releases: Tahoe 26.2, Sequoia 15.7.3, and Sonoma 14.8.3. Exploitation requires local access (AV:L), low attack complexity (AC:L), no privileges (PR:N), but does require user interaction (UI:R), such as running or installing a malicious app. The vulnerability impacts confidentiality (C:H) but does not affect integrity or availability. Apple mitigated the issue by removing the vulnerable code responsible for the permissions flaw. There are no known exploits in the wild at the time of publication, but the risk remains for privacy breaches if exploited. This vulnerability is particularly relevant for environments where location privacy is critical, including corporate and governmental organizations. The CVSS score of 5.5 reflects a medium severity level, balancing the moderate impact on confidentiality with the requirement for user interaction and local access. The vulnerability highlights the importance of strict permission enforcement in operating systems to protect sensitive user data such as location information.

For European organizations, the primary impact of CVE-2025-43513 is the potential unauthorized disclosure of sensitive location information, which can lead to privacy violations and regulatory non-compliance, especially under GDPR. Confidentiality breaches of location data could expose employees’ or assets’ whereabouts, increasing risks of targeted attacks, physical security threats, or espionage. Although the vulnerability does not affect system integrity or availability, the leakage of location data can undermine trust and lead to reputational damage. Organizations relying on macOS devices for sensitive operations or handling personal data are particularly at risk. The requirement for user interaction reduces the likelihood of widespread automated exploitation but does not eliminate risk from social engineering or insider threats. The absence of known exploits in the wild suggests a window of opportunity for proactive patching and mitigation before active attacks emerge.

1. Deploy the official Apple patches immediately by upgrading to macOS Tahoe 26.2, Sequoia 15.7.3, or Sonoma 14.8.3 or later versions where the vulnerability is fixed. 2. Restrict installation of applications to trusted sources only, leveraging Apple’s notarization and app store controls to reduce risk of malicious apps. 3. Implement strict application permission policies using macOS’s privacy controls to limit location access only to necessary apps. 4. Educate users about the risks of granting location permissions and the importance of avoiding untrusted software to reduce user interaction exploitation vectors. 5. Monitor endpoint security logs for unusual app behavior or unauthorized access attempts to location services. 6. Consider deploying Mobile Device Management (MDM) solutions to centrally enforce security policies and patch management on macOS devices. 7. Conduct regular audits of installed applications and their permissions to identify and remediate excessive access rights. 8. For highly sensitive environments, consider disabling location services where feasible or using network-level controls to limit location data exposure.