CVE-2025-43529

Published Dec 17, 2025

Last updated a month ago

WebKit

Overview

AI description

Automated description summarized from trusted sources.

CVE-2025-43529 is a use-after-free vulnerability in WebKit that can be exploited by processing maliciously crafted web content. Google's Threat Analysis Group discovered this flaw. Apple has released security updates for iOS, iPadOS, macOS, tvOS, watchOS, visionOS, and Safari to address this vulnerability, as it may have been exploited in targeted attacks against specific individuals using versions of iOS before iOS 26. Devices impacted include iPhone 11 and later, iPad Pro 12.9-inch (3rd generation and later), iPad Pro 11-inch (1st generation and later), iPad Air (3rd generation and later), iPad (8th generation and later), and iPad mini (5th generation and later).

Description: A use-after-free issue was addressed with improved memory management. This issue is fixed in watchOS 26.2, 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, tvOS 26.2. Processing maliciously crafted web content may lead to arbitrary code execution. Apple is aware of a report that this issue may have been exploited in an extremely sophisticated attack against specific targeted individuals on versions of iOS before iOS 26. CVE-2025-14174 was also issued in response to this report.
Source: product-security@apple.com
NVD status: Analyzed
Products: safari, ipados, iphone_os, macos, tvos, visionos, watchos

Risk scores

CVSS 3.1

Type: Secondary
Base score: 8.8
Impact score: 5.9
Exploitability score: 2.8
Vector string: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Severity: HIGH

Known exploits

Data from CISA

Vulnerability name: Apple Multiple Products Use-After-Free WebKit Vulnerability
Exploit added on: Dec 15, 2025
Exploit action due: Jan 5, 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-416

Hype score: Not currently trending

Configurations

[
  {
    "nodes": [
      {
        "negate": false,
        "cpeMatch": [
          {
            "criteria": "cpe:2.3:a:apple:safari:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*",
            "vulnerable": true,
            "matchCriteriaId": "3ECBF838-536C-47F9-9876-C526B8ED32EC",
            "versionEndExcluding": "26.2"
          },
          {
            "criteria": "cpe:2.3:o:apple:ipados:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*",
            "vulnerable": true,
            "matchCriteriaId": "6547722A-1226-4E23-B3AE-8692B07C2657",
            "versionEndExcluding": "18.7.3"
          },
          {
            "criteria": "cpe:2.3:o:apple:ipados:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*",
            "vulnerable": true,
            "matchCriteriaId": "8B71D919-1AA2-4F17-A834-4B703E36F7E2",
            "versionEndExcluding": "26.2",
            "versionStartIncluding": "26.0"
          },
          {
            "criteria": "cpe:2.3:o:apple:iphone_os:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*",
            "vulnerable": true,
            "matchCriteriaId": "8928A377-93BD-49AD-B4FE-5B2328EBDB70",
            "versionEndExcluding": "18.7.3"
          },
          {
            "criteria": "cpe:2.3:o:apple:iphone_os:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*",
            "vulnerable": true,
            "matchCriteriaId": "10FD01C3-D77F-4FE4-8195-F2C59FB1321C",
            "versionEndExcluding": "26.2",
            "versionStartIncluding": "26.0"
          },
          {
            "criteria": "cpe:2.3:o:apple:macos:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*",
            "vulnerable": true,
            "matchCriteriaId": "FBA92B6D-E36C-432B-A041-94D81427CD75",
            "versionEndExcluding": "26.2"
          },
          {
            "criteria": "cpe:2.3:o:apple:tvos:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*",
            "vulnerable": true,
            "matchCriteriaId": "E0BBFB45-21F3-4B72-8DB1-BE72AFE0D2AB",
            "versionEndExcluding": "26.2"
          },
          {
            "criteria": "cpe:2.3:o:apple:visionos:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*",
            "vulnerable": true,
            "matchCriteriaId": "EB10D901-4800-4DF9-AB35-48017C178161",
            "versionEndExcluding": "26.2"
          },
          {
            "criteria": "cpe:2.3:o:apple:watchos:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*",
            "vulnerable": true,
            "matchCriteriaId": "15574823-ECE0-4394-99BC-6AFA34E599CC",
            "versionEndExcluding": "26.2"
          }
        ],
        "operator": "OR"
      }
    ]
  }
]

References

Sources include official advisories and independent security research.