CVE-2025-43516 is a session management vulnerability in Apple macOS that allows a user with Voice Control enabled to potentially transcribe the activity of another user on the same system. Voice Control is an accessibility feature that enables users to control their Mac via voice commands and transcribe spoken words. Due to insufficient session boundary checks, a malicious or unauthorized user with Voice Control enabled could intercept or access audio streams or transcriptions intended for another user session. This leads to a breach of confidentiality, as sensitive spoken information or commands could be exposed. Apple addressed this issue in macOS Sonoma 14.8.3 and Sequoia 15.7.3 by implementing improved session management checks to ensure that Voice Control transcriptions are isolated per user session. The vulnerability does not require active exploitation in the wild to pose a risk, but the lack of a CVSS score indicates it is newly disclosed. The flaw primarily affects multi-user environments where multiple user accounts are active on the same macOS device, such as shared workstations or public terminals. The vulnerability highlights the importance of strict session isolation in accessibility features that handle sensitive input data. Since the vulnerability involves voice data, the impact on privacy and confidentiality is significant, especially in environments handling sensitive or proprietary information.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a risk to confidentiality and privacy, particularly in sectors where sensitive verbal communications occur, such as finance, healthcare, legal, and government. Organizations using macOS devices in shared or multi-user settings (e.g., hot-desking, shared workstations) could inadvertently expose sensitive spoken information to unauthorized users with Voice Control enabled. This could lead to data leakage, intellectual property exposure, or compliance violations under GDPR due to unauthorized processing of personal data. The vulnerability does not appear to affect system integrity or availability directly but undermines trust in user session isolation. The absence of known exploits in the wild reduces immediate risk but does not eliminate the threat, especially as attackers could develop exploits. European organizations with remote or hybrid work environments using macOS devices should be particularly vigilant. The impact is heightened in organizations with strict data privacy requirements and those subject to regulatory scrutiny.

1. Immediately apply the security updates macOS Sonoma 14.8.3 or Sequoia 15.7.3 or later to all affected devices to ensure the vulnerability is patched. 2. Review and restrict the use of Voice Control, especially in multi-user or shared device environments. Disable Voice Control where it is not essential. 3. Implement strict user session management policies to prevent unauthorized access to other users' sessions or data. 4. Conduct user awareness training about the risks of enabling accessibility features that may expose sensitive data. 5. Monitor macOS devices for unusual Voice Control activity or unauthorized access attempts. 6. For organizations with high-security requirements, consider additional endpoint security controls that monitor inter-process communications and session boundaries. 7. Regularly audit device configurations and installed software to ensure compliance with security policies. 8. Coordinate with Apple support or enterprise management tools to enforce timely patch deployment and configuration management.