CVE-2025-43522: 
macOS vulnerability analysis and mitigation

CVE-2025-43522 is a downgrade vulnerability in the AppleMobileFileIntegrity component affecting Intel-based Mac computers, where insufficient code-signing restrictions allow a malicious app to access user-sensitive data. It was disclosed by Apple on December 12, 2025, and is classified under CWE-347 (Improper Verification of Cryptographic Signature). The vulnerability affects macOS versions prior to Sequoia 15.7.3 and is also addressed in macOS Tahoe 26.2. It carries a CVSS v3.1 base score of 3.3 (Low), assigned by CISA-ADP (Apple Advisory 15.7.3, Apple Advisory Tahoe 26.2).

The vulnerability resides in the AppleMobileFileIntegrity subsystem on Intel-based Macs, where a downgrade attack can be performed to bypass code-signing enforcement, classified as CWE-347 (Improper Verification of Cryptographic Signature). By exploiting this weakness, a locally installed application can downgrade the integrity verification mechanism to a less restrictive state, circumventing protections that would otherwise prevent unauthorized data access. The attack vector is local, requires low privileges, no user interaction, and has low attack complexity. Apple addressed the issue by implementing additional code-signing restrictions. No public proof-of-concept exploit code has been identified (Apple Advisory 15.7.3, Apple Advisory Tahoe 26.2).

Successful exploitation allows a malicious application running on an Intel-based Mac to access user-sensitive data that should be protected by the AppleMobileFileIntegrity framework's code-signing controls. The impact is limited to confidentiality — there is no integrity or availability impact — and the scope is confined to the local system without privilege escalation or lateral movement potential. The vulnerability does not affect Apple Silicon Macs or non-macOS platforms (Apple Advisory 15.7.3, Apple Advisory Tahoe 26.2).

Apple has released patches addressing CVE-2025-43522 in macOS Sequoia 15.7.3 (released December 12, 2025) and macOS Tahoe 26.2. Users should update their Intel-based Mac systems to one of these versions immediately via System Settings > General > Software Update. No configuration-based workaround has been published by Apple; upgrading to a patched version is the only recommended remediation (Apple Advisory 15.7.3, Apple Advisory Tahoe 26.2).

The CIS (Center for Internet Security) included CVE-2025-43522 in its advisory on multiple vulnerabilities in Apple products that could allow for arbitrary code execution, recommending prompt patching (CIS Advisory). Community and media attention has been relatively limited given the low CVSS score and local-only attack vector, with coverage primarily aggregated through vulnerability tracking platforms and security feeds.