CVE-2025-43320: 
macOS vulnerability analysis and mitigation

CVE-2025-43320 is a privilege escalation vulnerability in the AppleMobileFileIntegrity component of macOS that allows a locally installed app to bypass launch constraint protections and execute malicious code with elevated privileges. It affects macOS versions prior to Sequoia 15.7.3 and was disclosed on December 12, 2025, when Apple released the patched version. The vulnerability was also addressed in macOS Tahoe 26. It carries a CVSS v3.1 base score of 7.8 (High) (Apple Advisory 15.7.3, Apple Advisory Tahoe 26).

The vulnerability is classified as CWE-269 (Improper Privilege Management) and resides in the AppleMobileFileIntegrity subsystem, which is responsible for enforcing code-signing and launch constraint policies on macOS. The root cause is insufficient logic in the enforcement of launch constraints, allowing a malicious app to bypass these protections and execute code with elevated privileges. Apple addressed the issue by adding additional logic to the affected component. The vulnerability was discovered and reported by Claudio Bozzato and Francesco Benvenuto of Cisco Talos (Apple Advisory 15.7.3, Apple Advisory Tahoe 26).

Successful exploitation allows a locally installed, low-privileged application to bypass macOS launch constraint protections and execute arbitrary malicious code with elevated privileges, resulting in high confidentiality, integrity, and availability impact. An attacker could leverage this to access sensitive user data, tamper with system files, or establish persistent access on the compromised host. The scope is limited to the local system, but the ability to escalate privileges significantly increases the risk of further lateral movement or data exfiltration (Apple Advisory 15.7.3).

Apple has released patches addressing CVE-2025-43320 in macOS Sequoia 15.7.3 (released December 12, 2025) and macOS Tahoe 26. Users and administrators should update affected Intel-based and Apple silicon Mac systems to these versions or later as soon as possible. No configuration-based workarounds have been published by Apple; upgrading to the patched release is the only recommended remediation (Apple Advisory 15.7.3, Apple Advisory Tahoe 26).

The vulnerability was reported by Cisco Talos researchers Claudio Bozzato and Francesco Benvenuto, indicating active security research into macOS privilege management mechanisms. The SANS Internet Storm Center noted the December 2025 Apple security updates, which included this CVE among multiple fixes. No significant broader media controversy or threat actor attribution has been publicly reported in connection with this specific vulnerability (Apple Advisory 15.7.3).