CVE-2025-46288 is a permissions-related vulnerability identified in Apple’s operating systems including iOS, iPadOS, visionOS, watchOS, and macOS Tahoe. The issue stems from insufficient restrictions on app permissions, allowing a malicious or compromised app to access sensitive payment tokens stored or managed by the system. Payment tokens are critical components used in mobile payment frameworks such as Apple Pay, representing encrypted credentials that authorize transactions without exposing actual card details. The vulnerability does not require privileged access (PR:N) but does require user interaction (UI:R), indicating that the user must perform some action, such as installing or interacting with the app, for exploitation. The attack vector is local (AV:L), meaning the attacker must have local access to the device. The vulnerability impacts confidentiality (C:H) but does not affect integrity or availability. Apple addressed this issue by enhancing permission checks and restrictions in the 26.2 releases of the affected operating systems. While no known exploits have been reported in the wild, the potential for unauthorized access to payment tokens poses a significant risk for financial fraud and privacy violations. The underlying weakness corresponds to CWE-284, which relates to improper access control. The vulnerability affects unspecified versions prior to the 26.2 updates, so organizations must verify their device OS versions to determine exposure.

For European organizations, this vulnerability could lead to unauthorized access to sensitive payment tokens on employee or customer Apple devices, potentially enabling fraudulent transactions or theft of financial information. Organizations relying on Apple devices for mobile commerce, point-of-sale systems, or employee expense management are particularly at risk. The confidentiality breach could undermine trust in mobile payment systems and lead to financial losses or regulatory penalties under GDPR if personal payment data is compromised. Although exploitation requires local access and user interaction, the widespread use of Apple devices in Europe increases the attack surface. The vulnerability does not affect system integrity or availability, so operational disruption is unlikely, but the financial and reputational impact could be significant. The lack of known exploits suggests limited current risk, but proactive patching is critical to prevent future attacks.

European organizations should immediately verify the OS versions of all Apple devices in use and prioritize updating to visionOS 26.2, iOS 26.2, iPadOS 26.2, watchOS 26.2, and macOS Tahoe 26.2 or later. Restrict installation of untrusted or unnecessary apps, especially those requesting access to payment-related permissions. Implement mobile device management (MDM) solutions to enforce update policies and control app permissions centrally. Educate users about the risks of installing unknown apps and the importance of applying system updates promptly. Monitor device logs and payment transaction anomalies for signs of unauthorized access. Coordinate with payment service providers to detect and respond to suspicious activities. Consider additional endpoint security solutions that can detect abnormal app behavior related to payment token access. Regularly review and audit app permissions related to financial data on corporate devices.