CVE-2025-43535 in iOS
Summary
by MITRE • 12/17/2025
The 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 • 01/25/2026
This vulnerability represents a memory handling issue that affects Apple's web browser and operating systems, specifically impacting Safari versions prior to 26.2 and iOS/iPadOS versions 18.7.3 and 26.2 respectively. The flaw manifests when processing maliciously crafted web content, potentially leading to unexpected process crashes that could disrupt normal system operations. The issue was addressed through enhanced memory management protocols designed to prevent improper memory allocation and deallocation patterns that could be exploited by attackers. This type of vulnerability falls under the category of memory corruption flaws that can lead to denial of service conditions or potentially more severe exploitation vectors depending on the specific implementation details of the memory handling routines.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with common weaknesses identified in software security practices, particularly those categorized under CWE-122 which deals with insufficient synchronization of memory access operations. The flaw likely involves improper handling of memory buffers during web content rendering processes where malicious input could cause memory corruption through buffer overflows or use-after-free conditions. The fact that this affects web content processing indicates the vulnerability exists within the browser's rendering engine or web content parser where untrusted input is processed without adequate memory boundary checks. This issue demonstrates the critical importance of robust memory management in web browsers which are frequently targeted by attackers due to their complex processing of diverse content types from untrusted sources.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple process crashes to potentially enable more sophisticated attack vectors that could compromise system stability and user security. When web browsers crash unexpectedly, users may lose unsaved work and potentially expose themselves to further exploitation opportunities if the crash occurs during critical operations. The vulnerability affects multiple Apple platforms including mobile and desktop operating systems, indicating a widespread exposure that requires coordinated patching across different device types and software versions. Organizations using Apple devices for business operations must prioritize deployment of the security updates to prevent potential exploitation that could lead to service disruption or unauthorized access to sensitive information processed through affected browsers.
The remediation approach taken by Apple focuses on improving memory handling mechanisms rather than implementing complex exploit mitigations, suggesting that the vulnerability was likely a straightforward memory corruption issue. This approach aligns with standard security practices where memory management improvements address root causes rather than surface symptoms of software defects. The fix applies to multiple platform versions simultaneously, indicating that Apple's security team identified this as a fundamental memory handling issue that required consistent resolution across their ecosystem. Organizations should implement the security updates as soon as possible to ensure protection against potential exploitation attempts that could leverage this memory handling weakness. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the importance of continuous security monitoring and timely patch deployment to maintain effective defense against emerging threats targeting widely used software components like web browsers.