CVE-2025-43501 in iOS
Summary
by MITRE • 12/17/2025
A buffer overflow issue was addressed with improved memory handling. This issue is fixed in Safari 26.2, iOS 18.7.3 and iPadOS 18.7.3, iOS 26.2 and iPadOS 26.2, macOS Tahoe 26.2, visionOS 26.2. Processing maliciously crafted web content may lead to an unexpected process crash.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/24/2026
This buffer overflow vulnerability represents a critical memory safety issue that affects Apple's web browser and operating systems. The flaw manifests when Safari processes maliciously crafted web content, potentially leading to unexpected process crashes that could compromise system stability and security. The vulnerability stems from inadequate memory handling mechanisms that fail to properly validate buffer boundaries during content rendering operations. According to industry standards, this issue aligns with CWE-121, which describes unsafe array indexing conditions that can result in buffer overflows, and CWE-125, which covers out-of-bounds read conditions that may lead to memory corruption. The vulnerability impacts a wide range of Apple platforms including iOS, iPadOS, macOS, and visionOS, demonstrating the widespread nature of the memory handling flaw across the company's ecosystem.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs during web content processing when malicious input exceeds allocated buffer space, causing memory corruption that can trigger arbitrary code execution or system instability. Attackers could potentially craft specially designed web pages or embedded content that, when loaded in Safari, would overflow buffer boundaries and cause the browser process to crash. This behavior aligns with ATT&CK technique T1203, which involves exploiting software vulnerabilities to gain unauthorized access or cause system disruptions. The memory corruption could potentially be leveraged to execute malicious code or escalate privileges, though the immediate impact appears to be process termination rather than full system compromise. The fix implemented in Safari 26.2 and corresponding operating system versions addresses the root cause through enhanced memory management protocols and stricter input validation mechanisms.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple browser crashes, as it represents a potential gateway for more sophisticated attacks targeting Apple's ecosystem. Organizations and individual users who rely on Safari for web browsing face increased risk of service disruption and potential exploitation opportunities. The vulnerability's presence across multiple Apple platforms including iOS, iPadOS, macOS, and visionOS creates a significant attack surface that requires immediate remediation. Security teams must prioritize patch deployment across all affected systems to prevent potential exploitation. The fix addresses the underlying memory handling issues through improved buffer management and input sanitization techniques that prevent the overflow conditions from occurring. This vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of robust memory safety practices in modern web browsers and operating systems, particularly given the sophisticated attack vectors that can exploit such fundamental flaws. The remediation efforts should include comprehensive testing of patched versions to ensure that the memory handling improvements effectively prevent similar vulnerabilities from reoccurring in future implementations.