CVE-2025-43265 in iOS
Summary
by MITRE • 07/30/2025
An out-of-bounds read was addressed with improved input validation. This issue is fixed in watchOS 11.6, visionOS 2.6, iOS 18.6 and iPadOS 18.6, macOS Sequoia 15.6, tvOS 18.6. Processing maliciously crafted web content may disclose internal states of the app.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/26/2025
This vulnerability represents a critical out-of-bounds read flaw that affects multiple Apple operating systems including watchOS, visionOS, iOS, iPadOS, macOS, and tvOS. The issue stems from insufficient input validation mechanisms within the web content processing pipelines of these platforms, creating a potential avenue for attackers to exploit memory access violations. The vulnerability is particularly concerning as it allows for internal state disclosure when maliciously crafted web content is processed by affected applications. This type of flaw falls under the common weakness enumeration CWE-125 which specifically addresses out-of-bounds read conditions where programs access memory locations beyond the bounds of allocated buffers or arrays.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability demonstrates a failure in bounds checking during web content parsing operations, where the system does not properly validate the size or structure of incoming data before attempting to access memory regions. When malicious content is processed, the application may attempt to read memory locations that are not properly allocated or accessible, potentially exposing sensitive internal application state information. This could include memory addresses, application data structures, or other confidential information that might be leveraged by attackers to gain deeper insights into the system's internal operations. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 which covers command and scripting interpreter usage, particularly when the exploitation involves manipulating application memory through malformed input.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it provides attackers with potential pathways for more sophisticated attacks including privilege escalation or further exploitation of adjacent vulnerabilities. The fact that this issue affects multiple Apple platforms simultaneously suggests a systemic flaw in the web rendering engines or content processing modules shared across these operating systems. The affected applications that process web content, including browsers, email clients, and web-based interfaces, become potential entry points for attackers seeking to extract sensitive information or establish persistent access. Security researchers have identified that this vulnerability could be exploited through various vectors including malicious websites, email attachments, or web-based documents that trigger the affected processing paths.
Apple has addressed this vulnerability through comprehensive updates released as part of watchOS 11.6, visionOS 2.6, iOS 18.6, iPadOS 18.6, macOS Sequoia 15.6, and tvOS 18.6. These updates implement improved input validation mechanisms that properly bounds-check all incoming web content before processing, preventing the out-of-bounds memory access that previously occurred. Organizations should prioritize immediate deployment of these security updates across all affected devices to mitigate the risk of exploitation. The mitigation strategy should also include monitoring for any suspicious web content processing activities and implementing network-level controls to filter potentially malicious web traffic. Additionally, users should be educated about the risks of visiting untrusted websites or opening unexpected web-based attachments, as these remain common attack vectors for exploiting such vulnerabilities. Security teams should also consider implementing memory protection mechanisms and application sandboxing to limit the potential impact should any exploitation attempts succeed despite the patch deployment.