CVE-2025-43520

Apple Multiple Products Classic Buffer Overflow

5.5 MEDIUMActively exploited (CISA KEV)EPSS 0.43%

Published12 Dec 2025
Added to CISA KEV20 Mar 2026
Remediation due3 Apr 2026

Description

A memory corruption issue was addressed with improved memory handling. This issue is fixed in iOS 18.7.2 and iPadOS 18.7.2, iOS 26.1 and iPadOS 26.1, macOS Sequoia 15.7.2, macOS Sonoma 14.8.2, macOS Tahoe 26.1, tvOS 26.1, visionOS 26.1, watchOS 26.1. A malicious application may be able to cause unexpected system termination or write kernel memory.

CVSS 3.1 breakdown

Attack vectorLocal

Attack complexityLow

Privileges requiredLow

User interactionNone

ScopeUnchanged

ConfidentialityNone

IntegrityNone

AvailabilityHigh

CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H

Affected products

Apple iPadOS< 18.7.2 · 26.0

Apple iPhone OS< 18.7.2 · 26.0

Apple macOS≥ 14.0 < 14.8.2 · ≥ 15.0 < 15.7.2 · 26.0

Apple Tvos< 26.1

Apple Visionos< 26.1

Apple Watchos< 26.1

Remediation

Fixed in

Apple iPadOS≥ 18.7.2

Apple iPhone OS≥ 18.7.2

Apple macOS≥ 14.8.2

Apple Tvos≥ 26.1

Apple Visionos≥ 26.1

Apple Watchos≥ 26.1

Patch & vendor advisories

References

https://cloud.google.com/blog/topics/threat-intelligence/darksword-ios-exploit-chain/Technical Description
https://support.apple.com/en-us/125632Release NotesVendor Advisory
https://support.apple.com/en-us/125633Release NotesVendor Advisory
https://support.apple.com/en-us/125634Release NotesVendor Advisory
https://support.apple.com/en-us/125635Release NotesVendor Advisory
https://support.apple.com/en-us/125636Release NotesVendor Advisory
https://support.apple.com/en-us/125637Release NotesVendor Advisory
https://support.apple.com/en-us/125638Release NotesVendor Advisory
https://support.apple.com/en-us/125639Release NotesVendor Advisory
https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2025-43520US Government Resource

Related CVEs

Recent high-severity vulnerabilities sharing a weakness type.

Frequently asked

Is CVE-2025-43520 being actively exploited?

Yes. CVE-2025-43520 is listed in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog, added 20 Mar 2026.

How severe is CVE-2025-43520?

CVE-2025-43520 has a CVSS 3.1 base score of 5.5, rated medium. EPSS estimates a 0.43% probability of exploitation.

Which products are affected by CVE-2025-43520?

Affected products include Apple iPadOS, Apple iPhone OS, Apple macOS, Apple Tvos, Apple Visionos, and 1 more.

How do I fix CVE-2025-43520?

Upgrade affected software to a fixed version, for example Apple iPadOS 18.7.2, Apple iPhone OS 18.7.2, Apple macOS 14.8.2 or later, then confirm no affected versions remain in your inventory.

How Secuno handles this

Secuno correlates vulnerabilities like CVE-2025-43520 against the real software inventory on every managed device, as each hourly inventory arrives. Rather than a static severity, each match is scored in context: exploit availability, EPSS, the asset's exposure, and business criticality decide where it lands in the queue. Because it is on the CISA KEV list, a risk for it never ranks below high, and the update that fixes it moves to the Emergency patch lane. If an affected version is present anywhere across your portfolio, it surfaces automatically with a prioritised remediation path.

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Data from the NVD, CISA KEV catalog and FIRST EPSS. CVSS 3.1 base score shown where available.