CVE-2025-43216 in iOS
Summary
by MITRE • 07/30/2025
A use-after-free issue was addressed with improved memory management. This issue is fixed in watchOS 11.6, iOS 18.6 and iPadOS 18.6, iPadOS 17.7.9, tvOS 18.6, macOS Sequoia 15.6, visionOS 2.6. Processing maliciously crafted web content may lead to an unexpected Safari crash.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/26/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2025-43216 represents a critical use-after-free condition that affects multiple Apple operating systems including watchOS, iOS, iPadOS, tvOS, macOS, and visionOS. This memory safety issue stems from improper handling of memory allocation and deallocation processes within the web rendering components of Apple's ecosystem. The flaw manifests when processing maliciously crafted web content through Safari browser, creating a potential attack vector that could be exploited by adversaries to compromise system integrity. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-416 which specifically addresses use-after-free conditions, making it a well-documented memory safety concern that has been prevalent in software security assessments for decades. Such issues typically arise when software continues to reference memory locations after they have been freed, potentially allowing attackers to manipulate the system's memory state through carefully crafted inputs.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs within Apple's web content processing pipeline where memory management fails to properly track object lifecycles during web page rendering. When Safari encounters malicious content, the improper memory handling allows for a scenario where freed memory blocks are still accessible to the application, potentially enabling arbitrary code execution or system instability. The crash behavior described in the vulnerability report indicates that the system's memory management mechanisms are insufficient to prevent access to deallocated memory regions, leading to unpredictable application behavior. This particular issue affects Apple's WebKit rendering engine which powers Safari and other web-based applications across the ecosystem. The exploitation of such vulnerabilities typically requires sophisticated attack techniques that leverage the specific memory layout and access patterns of the affected systems.
The operational impact of CVE-2025-43216 extends beyond simple browser crashes to potentially enable more severe security consequences including remote code execution and privilege escalation. Attackers could craft web pages that, when loaded in Safari, trigger the use-after-free condition and subsequently gain control over system resources. The affected platforms represent a significant portion of Apple's consumer and enterprise user base, making this vulnerability particularly concerning from a threat landscape perspective. Organizations relying on Apple devices for business operations face potential risks including data breaches, system compromise, and unauthorized access to sensitive information. The vulnerability's presence across multiple operating systems including macOS, iOS, and visionOS indicates a systemic issue within Apple's memory management implementation that requires comprehensive remediation across the entire platform ecosystem. This type of vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059 which covers command and scripting interpreter, as attackers may leverage such memory corruption issues to execute malicious payloads.
The remediation for CVE-2025-43216 involves updating affected systems to the patched versions mentioned in the advisory. Apple has addressed this issue through improved memory management techniques and enhanced object lifecycle tracking within the WebKit framework. System administrators should prioritize deployment of watchOS 11.6, iOS 18.6, iPadOS 18.6, iPadOS 17.7.9, tvOS 18.6, macOS Sequoia 15.6, and visionOS 2.6 updates across all managed devices. The patch addresses the root cause by implementing stricter memory validation and proper deallocation procedures that prevent access to freed memory regions. Organizations should also consider implementing additional security measures such as web content filtering, sandboxing mechanisms, and network-based intrusion detection systems to provide defense-in-depth protection against potential exploitation attempts. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify any remaining unpatched systems within the organization's infrastructure, as the use-after-free condition could potentially be leveraged in combination with other vulnerabilities to create more sophisticated attack vectors.