CVE-2025-43520

Published Dec 12, 2025

Last updated a month ago

Exploit known CVSS medium 5.5

iPadOS

iOS

macOS

Splunk

Zero-day

XSS

Mobile device

Overview

AI description

Automated description summarized from trusted sources.

CVE-2025-43520 is identified as a memory corruption issue, specifically a classic buffer overflow vulnerability, affecting multiple Apple operating systems. These include watchOS, iOS, iPadOS, macOS, visionOS, and tvOS. The vulnerability could potentially allow a malicious application to cause unexpected system termination or write to kernel memory. Apple has addressed this issue with improved memory handling, and fixes have been implemented in various updated versions of its operating systems, such as watchOS 26.1, iOS 18.7.2 and iPadOS 18.7.2, macOS Tahoe 26.1, visionOS 26.1, and tvOS 26.1. This vulnerability has also been noted as part of the "DarkSword" exploit chain, which has been utilized by state-sponsored actors and spyware vendors.

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.
Source: product-security@apple.com
NVD status: Analyzed
Products: ipados, iphone_os, macos, tvos, visionos, watchos

Risk scores

CVSS 3.1

Type: Primary
Base score: 5.5
Impact score: 3.6
Exploitability score: 1.8
Vector string: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
Severity: MEDIUM

Known exploits

Data from CISA

Vulnerability name: Apple Multiple Products Classic Buffer Overflow Vulnerability
Exploit added on: Mar 20, 2026
Exploit action due: Apr 3, 2026
Required action: Apply mitigations per vendor instructions, follow applicable BOD 22-01 guidance for cloud services, or discontinue use of the product if mitigations are unavailable.

Weaknesses

134c704f-9b21-4f2e-91b3-4a467353bcc0: CWE-120

Hype score: Not currently trending

Configurations

[
  {
    "nodes": [
      {
        "cpeMatch": [
          {
            "criteria": "cpe:2.3:o:apple:ipados:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*",
            "matchCriteriaId": "819E8F86-A336-49A2-853F-249459279A59",
            "versionEndExcluding": "18.7.2",
            "vulnerable": true
          },
          {
            "criteria": "cpe:2.3:o:apple:ipados:26.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*",
            "matchCriteriaId": "4173F942-2CF6-447E-A942-948F6EF6CE77",
            "vulnerable": true
          },
          {
            "criteria": "cpe:2.3:o:apple:iphone_os:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*",
            "matchCriteriaId": "7B98B4A6-EFB0-4651-BF56-06917E7CEC85",
            "versionEndExcluding": "18.7.2",
            "vulnerable": true
          },
          {
            "criteria": "cpe:2.3:o:apple:iphone_os:26.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*",
            "matchCriteriaId": "E29A276A-7091-42B2-B893-6A5801A0716E",
            "vulnerable": true
          },
          {
            "criteria": "cpe:2.3:o:apple:macos:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*",
            "matchCriteriaId": "9827CBDC-8C03-46BA-B534-8533F0975804",
            "versionEndExcluding": "14.8.2",
            "versionStartIncluding": "14.0",
            "vulnerable": true
          },
          {
            "criteria": "cpe:2.3:o:apple:macos:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*",
            "matchCriteriaId": "4BE8199E-63D1-496C-B107-52853CFC2311",
            "versionEndExcluding": "15.7.2",
            "versionStartIncluding": "15.0",
            "vulnerable": true
          },
          {
            "criteria": "cpe:2.3:o:apple:macos:26.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*",
            "matchCriteriaId": "551159EE-8311-4A13-802D-85871DAB5E77",
            "vulnerable": true
          },
          {
            "criteria": "cpe:2.3:o:apple:tvos:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*",
            "matchCriteriaId": "290E0D29-CB5B-45A7-9FE3-FD2030B1D1A4",
            "versionEndExcluding": "26.1",
            "vulnerable": true
          },
          {
            "criteria": "cpe:2.3:o:apple:visionos:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*",
            "matchCriteriaId": "7DFD3616-65CA-4E5C-849C-3C20ACBCB610",
            "versionEndExcluding": "26.1",
            "vulnerable": true
          },
          {
            "criteria": "cpe:2.3:o:apple:watchos:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*",
            "matchCriteriaId": "9F9D7F76-13FB-407C-94E5-221B93021568",
            "versionEndExcluding": "26.1",
            "vulnerable": true
          }
        ],
        "negate": false,
        "operator": "OR"
      }
    ]
  }
]

References

Sources include official advisories and independent security research.