CVE-2025-43516: 
macOS vulnerability analysis and mitigation

CVE-2025-43516 is a session management vulnerability in Apple macOS affecting the Voice Control feature, classified under CWE-384 (Session Fixation). A user with Voice Control enabled may be able to transcribe another user's activity due to improper session handling between user accounts. The vulnerability was discovered by Kay Belardinelli of Harvard University and disclosed on December 12, 2025. Affected versions include macOS Sonoma prior to 14.8.3, macOS Sequoia prior to 15.7.3, and macOS Tahoe prior to 26.2. It carries a CVSS v3.1 base score of 3.3 (Low) (Apple Sequoia Advisory, Apple Sonoma Advisory, Apple Tahoe Advisory).

The root cause is a session management flaw (CWE-384 – Session Fixation) in macOS's Voice Control component, where session state is not properly isolated between different user accounts on the same system. When Voice Control is active, it may retain or reuse session context from a prior user's session, allowing the currently logged-in user with Voice Control enabled to inadvertently capture transcription data belonging to another user. Exploitation requires local access and low privileges — the attacker must be a legitimate user on the system with Voice Control enabled. Apple addressed the issue with improved session validation checks (Apple Sequoia Advisory, Apple Sonoma Advisory).

Successful exploitation results in a limited confidentiality breach: a local user with Voice Control enabled could transcribe activity (such as dictated text or voice commands) belonging to another user on the same macOS system. There is no impact on integrity or availability, and the vulnerability does not enable remote code execution, privilege escalation, or lateral movement. The scope is confined to the local system and is most relevant in shared-use or multi-user Mac environments (Apple Sequoia Advisory, Apple Sonoma Advisory).

Apple has released patches addressing this vulnerability in macOS Sonoma 14.8.3, macOS Sequoia 15.7.3, and macOS Tahoe 26.2, all released on December 12, 2025. Users should update their macOS installations to these versions or later via System Settings > Software Update. As a temporary workaround, disabling Voice Control (System Settings > Accessibility > Voice Control) on shared or multi-user systems reduces exposure until the patch can be applied (Apple Sequoia Advisory, Apple Sonoma Advisory, Apple Tahoe Advisory).

The vulnerability received limited industry attention given its low CVSS score and narrow exploitation conditions. CIS published an advisory noting multiple vulnerabilities in Apple products patched in the same release cycle, though CVE-2025-43516 was not individually highlighted (CIS Advisory). No significant researcher commentary or social media discussion specific to this CVE has been identified.