CVE-2025-46282 is a vulnerability identified in Apple Safari and macOS Tahoe that allows a local application to access sensitive user data due to inadequate permissions checks. The root cause is a failure in enforcing proper access control (CWE-284) within Safari, enabling an app with local access to bypass restrictions and read sensitive information without requiring authentication. The vulnerability requires user interaction, such as launching or permitting the app, and has a CVSS 3.1 base score of 5.5, indicating medium severity. The attack vector is local (AV:L), with low attack complexity (AC:L), no privileges required (PR:N), and user interaction needed (UI:R). The impact is primarily on confidentiality (C:H), with no impact on integrity or availability. Apple addressed this issue in macOS Tahoe 26.2 and Safari 26.2 by implementing additional permission checks to prevent unauthorized data access. No public exploits have been reported, but the vulnerability poses a risk if malicious local applications are introduced on affected systems. The affected versions are unspecified but presumed to be all versions prior to the fixed releases. This vulnerability highlights the importance of strict local application controls and timely patching to prevent sensitive data leakage on Apple platforms.

For European organizations, the primary impact of CVE-2025-46282 is the potential unauthorized disclosure of sensitive user data on Apple devices running vulnerable versions of Safari and macOS Tahoe. This can lead to privacy breaches, intellectual property exposure, and compliance violations under regulations such as GDPR. Since exploitation requires local access and user interaction, the threat is more relevant in environments where users may install untrusted applications or where endpoint security is lax. Sectors with high reliance on Apple ecosystems, including creative industries, finance, and government agencies, could face increased risk. The vulnerability does not affect system integrity or availability, so it is less likely to cause operational disruption but can undermine trust and confidentiality. The absence of known exploits reduces immediate risk but does not eliminate the need for proactive mitigation. Organizations with remote or hybrid workforces using Apple devices should be particularly vigilant to prevent local compromise scenarios.

1. Immediately update all Apple devices to macOS Tahoe 26.2 and Safari 26.2 or later to apply the security patches addressing this vulnerability. 2. Enforce strict application installation policies using Apple’s MDM solutions or endpoint management tools to restrict installation of untrusted or unsigned applications. 3. Educate users about the risks of installing unknown apps and the importance of verifying app sources to reduce the likelihood of user interaction enabling exploitation. 4. Implement endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions capable of monitoring and alerting on suspicious local application behavior that may attempt to access sensitive data. 5. Regularly audit installed applications and running processes on Apple devices to identify and remove unauthorized software. 6. Use Apple’s built-in privacy and security features, such as app sandboxing and permission controls, to limit app access to sensitive data. 7. Incorporate this vulnerability into risk assessments and incident response plans to ensure readiness in case exploitation attempts are detected. 8. Coordinate with IT and security teams to ensure timely patch deployment and compliance verification across all Apple endpoints.