CVE-2025-43517 is a privacy-related vulnerability in Apple macOS identified as CWE-532, which concerns exposure of information through log files. The root cause is insufficient redaction of private user data in system or application log entries, allowing an app with limited privileges (local access and low privileges) to read protected user information that should otherwise be inaccessible. This vulnerability does not require user interaction and does not affect system integrity or availability, only confidentiality. It affects multiple macOS versions prior to the patched releases: macOS Tahoe 26.2, macOS Sequoia 15.7.3, and macOS Sonoma 14.8.3. The vulnerability was addressed by improving the private data redaction mechanisms in log entries, ensuring sensitive information is not exposed to unauthorized applications. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 3.3, reflecting a low severity due to the requirement of local access with privileges and the limited scope of data exposure. No known exploits have been reported in the wild, indicating it is not actively exploited at this time. However, the vulnerability poses a privacy risk as unauthorized apps could potentially harvest sensitive user data from logs if the system is not updated. This vulnerability highlights the importance of secure logging practices and strict access controls on log data within macOS environments.

For European organizations, the primary impact is the potential unauthorized disclosure of protected user data through improperly redacted log entries on macOS systems. This could lead to privacy violations, regulatory non-compliance (e.g., GDPR), and potential reputational damage if sensitive user information is exposed. Although the vulnerability requires local access with low privileges, insider threats or malware with limited permissions could exploit this to gather confidential data. The impact on system integrity and availability is negligible, but confidentiality breaches can have legal and operational consequences, especially for organizations handling sensitive personal or corporate data. Organizations in sectors such as finance, healthcare, and technology that rely on macOS devices for critical operations are at higher risk. The absence of known exploits reduces immediate threat levels but does not eliminate the need for timely patching to prevent future exploitation. Given the privacy focus of European data protection laws, even low-severity confidentiality leaks can have outsized compliance and financial implications.

European organizations should immediately deploy the macOS updates macOS Tahoe 26.2, macOS Sequoia 15.7.3, and macOS Sonoma 14.8.3 to remediate this vulnerability. Beyond patching, organizations should audit and restrict application permissions to minimize the number of apps that can access logs or sensitive system data. Implement strict logging policies that limit the amount of sensitive information recorded and ensure logs are stored securely with access controls. Employ endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions to monitor for unusual local access patterns that could indicate attempts to exploit this vulnerability. Conduct regular privacy impact assessments to identify and mitigate risks related to data exposure through logs. Educate users and administrators about the risks of installing untrusted applications that could exploit local vulnerabilities. For highly sensitive environments, consider additional hardening such as disabling unnecessary logging or using encrypted logging mechanisms. Maintain an inventory of macOS devices and ensure compliance with patch management policies to reduce exposure.