This issue was addressed with improved memory handling. This issue is fixed in macOS Sequoia 15.6, macOS Sonoma 14.7.7. A malicious app may be able to...
Description
This issue was addressed with improved memory handling. This issue is fixed in macOS Sequoia 15.6, macOS Sonoma 14.7.7. A malicious app may be able to read kernel memory.
AI Analyst Comment
Remediation
Update This issue was addressed with improved memory Multiple Products to the latest version. Check vendor security advisory for specific patch details. Monitor for exploitation attempts and review access logs.
Executive Summary:
A critical vulnerability, identified as CVE-2025-43189, has been discovered in Apple's macOS operating system. This flaw allows a malicious application to read highly sensitive information directly from the kernel memory, bypassing standard security protections. Successful exploitation could lead to a total loss of data confidentiality on the affected Mac, exposing corporate data, user credentials, and other critical information.
Vulnerability Details
CVE-ID: CVE-2025-43189
Affected Software: Apple macOS
Affected Versions: macOS Sequoia versions prior to 15.6 and macOS Sonoma versions prior to 14.7.7.
Vulnerability: The vulnerability is caused by an improper memory handling issue within the macOS kernel. An attacker who can convince a user to install and run a malicious application on an affected system can exploit this flaw. The application can then make specific system calls to read from protected kernel memory spaces, which should be inaccessible. This provides the attacker with direct access to the most sensitive data on the system, including passwords, cryptographic keys, system tokens, and other confidential information being processed by the operating system.
Business Impact
This vulnerability is rated as critical severity with a CVSS score of 9.8. Successful exploitation could lead to a complete compromise of data confidentiality on the affected endpoint. For a business, this translates to a significant risk of data breaches, intellectual property theft, and exposure of sensitive customer or employee Personally Identifiable Information (PII). The stolen credentials or system tokens could be used to facilitate lateral movement across the corporate network, escalating the incident from a single compromised machine to a widespread network breach. This could result in severe financial losses, reputational damage, and potential regulatory fines.
Remediation Plan
Immediate Action: The primary remediation is to apply the security updates provided by Apple. System administrators should prioritize the deployment of these patches across all managed endpoints.
Proactive Monitoring:
Compensating Controls:
If immediate patching is not feasible, the following controls can help reduce the risk:
Exploitation Status
Public Exploit Available: false
Analyst Notes: As of July 30, 2025, there are no known public exploits available for this vulnerability, and it is not listed in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog. However, given the critical severity and the widespread use of macOS in corporate environments, it is highly likely that threat actors will actively work to develop exploit code. Organizations should assume that exploitation is probable in the near future.
Analyst Recommendation
Due to the critical severity (CVSS 9.8) of this vulnerability, we recommend immediate and urgent action. The ability for a local application to read kernel memory fundamentally breaks the security model of the operating system and exposes the organization to severe data breach risks. All organizations using macOS Sonoma and Sequoia must prioritize the deployment of the provided security patches to all endpoints. While this CVE is not currently listed on the CISA KEV, its high impact makes it a prime target for exploitation, and patching should be treated as the highest priority to prevent potential compromise.