CVE-2025-43438 in Safari
Summary
by MITRE • 11/04/2025
A use-after-free issue was addressed with improved memory management. This issue is fixed in Safari 26.1, iOS 18.7.2 and iPadOS 18.7.2, iOS 26.1 and iPadOS 26.1, macOS Tahoe 26.1, visionOS 26.1, watchOS 26.1. Processing maliciously crafted web content may lead to an unexpected Safari crash.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/30/2026
This vulnerability represents a critical use-after-free condition that was remediated through enhanced memory management protocols within Apple's operating systems and web browser. The flaw occurs when an application attempts to access memory that has already been freed, creating potential exploitation vectors for malicious actors. The issue specifically affects Safari web browser functionality when processing crafted web content, leading to unexpected application crashes that could potentially be leveraged for more severe attacks. The vulnerability was addressed in multiple Apple platforms including watchOS 26.1, macOS Tahoe 26.1, iOS 26.1, iPadOS 26.1, Safari 26.1, iOS 18.7.2, iPadOS 18.7.2, and visionOS 26.1, indicating a widespread impact across Apple's ecosystem. The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-416, which specifically addresses use-after-free conditions in memory management, making it a significant concern for system security and stability.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple crash scenarios, as use-after-free conditions often represent precursors to more sophisticated exploitation techniques within the ATT&CK framework's privilege escalation and code execution phases. When Safari processes maliciously crafted web content, the freed memory could be reallocated to contain attacker-controlled data, allowing for potential arbitrary code execution or information disclosure. This type of vulnerability is particularly dangerous in web browsers where users frequently encounter untrusted content, making the attack surface significant for enterprise and individual users alike. The fix implemented through improved memory management likely involves stricter validation of memory pointers and enhanced garbage collection mechanisms to prevent the reuse of freed memory blocks.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should prioritize immediate system updates across all affected platforms to ensure protection against potential exploitation attempts. Organizations should implement comprehensive patch management procedures to maintain updated browser versions and operating systems, particularly focusing on Safari installations that may be exposed to untrusted web content. Network security teams should monitor for potential exploitation attempts through web-based attacks and consider implementing browser security enhancements such as sandboxing and content filtering. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of regular security updates and proper memory management practices in preventing exploitation of fundamental programming errors that could lead to complete system compromise. Security professionals should also consider the broader implications of this vulnerability type within their threat modeling exercises, particularly when evaluating web browser security and user-facing applications that handle untrusted input data.