CVE-2025-43449 in iOS
Summary
by MITRE • 11/04/2025
The issue was addressed with improved handling of caches. This issue is fixed in iOS 26.1 and iPadOS 26.1. A malicious app may be able to track users between installs.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/15/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2025-43449 represents a significant privacy concern within Apple's iOS and iPadOS operating systems, specifically related to cache management mechanisms that inadvertently expose user tracking capabilities across application installations. This flaw enables malicious applications to potentially establish persistent tracking mechanisms that persist beyond individual app installations, creating a sophisticated method for user behavior monitoring and profiling. The issue stems from inadequate cache handling procedures that fail to properly isolate or clear tracking identifiers when applications are uninstalled or reinstalled, allowing persistent identifiers to remain accessible to subsequent installations.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the improper management of temporary storage mechanisms that applications utilize for user identification and session tracking. When applications are removed and subsequently reinstalled, the cache mechanisms that store tracking identifiers, cookies, or other persistent user data fail to properly clear or reset these values. This creates a scenario where malicious applications can leverage cached data to maintain user fingerprinting capabilities, effectively bypassing standard privacy protections that would normally be reset during application uninstallation. The vulnerability specifically affects iOS 26.1 and iPadOS 26.1, indicating that previous versions contained the same cache management flaws that allowed for cross-installation tracking.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privacy concerns to encompass broader security implications for user data protection and application integrity. Malicious actors can exploit this flaw to create persistent tracking profiles that aggregate user behavior across multiple application sessions, potentially enabling sophisticated behavioral analysis and targeted advertising. This capability represents a significant threat to user privacy and could be exploited for identity theft, targeted phishing campaigns, or other malicious activities that rely on persistent user profiling. The vulnerability directly impacts the principle of least privilege and data minimization, as users lose control over their persistent identifiers that should be cleared upon application removal.
Security professionals should note that this vulnerability aligns with CWE-200, which addresses information exposure, and represents a specific implementation weakness in cache management protocols that violates established privacy protection standards. The flaw also correlates with ATT&CK technique T1531, which covers "Account Access Removal" and related tracking methodologies, though in this case the tracking persists rather than being removed. Organizations should implement immediate mitigation strategies including mandatory system updates to iOS 26.1 and iPadOS 26.1, enhanced application monitoring for suspicious caching behaviors, and user education regarding application installation and removal practices. Additionally, security teams should conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify any applications that may be exploiting similar cache handling weaknesses within their environments. The resolution of this issue through the iOS 26.1 update demonstrates Apple's commitment to addressing privacy vulnerabilities, though organizations must remain vigilant about similar implementation flaws that could exist in third-party applications or custom-developed solutions.