CVE-2025-43337 in macOS
Summary
by MITRE • 09/16/2025
An access issue was addressed with additional sandbox restrictions. This issue is fixed in macOS Tahoe 26, macOS Sequoia 15.7.2. An app may be able to access sensitive user data.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/18/2025
This vulnerability represents a sandbox escape condition that undermines the security boundaries designed to protect user data on Apple operating systems. The issue manifests as an access problem that allows applications to potentially bypass established sandbox restrictions, creating unauthorized pathways to sensitive user information. The vulnerability affects macOS Tahoe 26 and macOS Sequoia 15.7.2, indicating that these specific versions contain insufficient sandboxing mechanisms to prevent malicious or unintended data access. The technical flaw resides in the operating system's privilege separation controls, where the sandbox implementation fails to properly enforce access restrictions that should isolate applications from each other and from user data repositories. This represents a significant weakening of the security model that Apple employs to protect user privacy and prevent unauthorized data exfiltration. The vulnerability falls under the category of sandbox escape attacks, which are particularly dangerous because they allow applications to circumvent the fundamental security boundaries that protect user information from being accessed by unauthorized processes.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data access issues, as it potentially enables adversaries to gather sensitive user information that should remain protected within the confines of proper sandboxing. Attackers could exploit this weakness to access personal files, credentials, communications, or other confidential data that applications normally cannot access. The security implications are particularly severe given that macOS applications are expected to operate within strict sandboxing constraints that prevent them from accessing data belonging to other applications or the user's personal information. This vulnerability essentially creates a backdoor that allows applications to access data they should not be permitted to access, undermining the entire security architecture that Apple has implemented to protect user privacy. The fix implemented in the updated macOS versions addresses the root cause by strengthening the sandbox restrictions, ensuring that applications cannot access sensitive user data without proper authorization or user consent. This remediation aligns with the principle of least privilege, where applications should only have access to the resources necessary for their legitimate operation.
Security professionals should consider this vulnerability in the context of broader attack patterns described in the ATT&CK framework, particularly those related to privilege escalation and credential access. The vulnerability's remediation demonstrates Apple's ongoing efforts to address sandboxing weaknesses that could be exploited by sophisticated attackers. Organizations implementing macOS security policies should prioritize updating to the patched versions, as this vulnerability could be exploited in targeted attacks against high-value user accounts. The fix represents a defensive measure that strengthens the operating system's security posture by reinforcing the isolation mechanisms that protect user data. From a compliance standpoint, this vulnerability could impact organizations that must maintain strict data protection standards, as unauthorized data access could constitute a violation of privacy regulations and security frameworks such as NIST SP 800-53 or ISO 27001. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of maintaining up-to-date security patches and the potential consequences of failing to address sandboxing weaknesses in operating systems. This issue is particularly relevant for enterprises that rely on macOS for business operations and must ensure that their systems maintain proper isolation between applications and user data. The remediation process should include thorough testing to ensure that legitimate application functionality is not disrupted while the sandbox restrictions are strengthened.