Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
CVE-2025-43529 is an Apple web content memory-safety flaw that can allow arbitrary code execution if a user processes malicious web content. Apple fixed it across Safari and major Apple platforms. Apple says it is aware of a report that it may have been used in an extremely sophisticated attack against specific targeted individuals on iOS versions before iOS 26.
Executive priority
Treat this as a high-priority Apple update, especially for leadership and other likely targeted users. The business risk is compromise through malicious web content, potentially leading to full confidentiality, integrity, and availability impact. Prioritize rapid patch compliance over lengthy investigation unless suspicious activity is already present.
Technical view
The issue is a use-after-free vulnerability, CWE-416, addressed through improved memory management. The CVSS 3.1 score is 8.8, with network attack vector, low complexity, no privileges required, and user interaction required. Fixed releases include Safari 26.2, iOS/iPadOS 18.7.3 and 26.2, macOS Tahoe 26.2, tvOS 26.2, visionOS 26.2, and watchOS 26.2.
Likely exposure
Organizations with Apple endpoints are potentially exposed when devices run versions older than the listed fixed releases and process maliciously crafted web content. Highest concern is for executives, journalists, activists, government personnel, and other targeted individuals using iOS before iOS 26, based on Apple’s exploitation statement.
Exploitation context
Apple reports possible exploitation in an extremely sophisticated attack against specific targeted individuals on iOS versions before iOS 26. CISA KEV status in the provided bundle is false, so there is no provided evidence of broad confirmed exploitation or KEV-driven emergency federal remediation deadlines.
Researcher notes
Evidence supports a WebKit-style memory safety risk, but the provided sources only identify it as Apple web content processing and use-after-free. Do not assume affected subcomponents beyond Apple’s advisories. CVE-2025-14174 was also issued in response to the same report, so assess it separately during Apple patch review.
Mitigation direction
- Update Safari to 26.2 where applicable.
- Update iOS and iPadOS to 18.7.3 or 26.2.
- Update macOS Tahoe to 26.2.
- Update tvOS, visionOS, and watchOS to 26.2.
- Prioritize high-risk users and internet-facing browsing use cases.
- Check Apple advisories for device-specific update availability.
Validation and detection
- Inventory Apple devices and installed OS versions.
- Confirm Safari version on managed macOS systems.
- Identify devices below the fixed versions listed by Apple.
- Review MDM compliance reports for pending Apple updates.
- Prioritize validation for high-risk users and executives.
- Monitor Apple and CISA pages for advisory changes.
Public sources used
Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.
Conservative CVE-to-ATT&CK context
These mappings and lookup hints may be relevant to the vulnerability behavior, CWE, affected product, or exposure path. Glexia-inferred context is not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, CWE, or CVE Program mapping.
ATT&CK lookup starting points
Use these exact CWE pages and searches to review the Glexia ATT&CK library from this CVE's weakness and description context.
CWE-416: Exact CWE lookup
Use the exact CWE identifier as the starting point before reviewing related ATT&CK behavior. Open the exact CWE lookup page first, then review the ATT&CK searches from that MITRE weakness context. This is a Glexia lookup hint, not an official ATT&CK mapping.
Open ATT&CK lookupExecution behavior lookup
The CVE wording references code or command execution, so execution technique review may help defensive triage. This is a Glexia inferred lookup path, not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, or CVE Program mapping.
Open ATT&CK lookupCVE-2025-43529 mapping review
Open the CVE-to-ATT&CK bridge for reviewed, inferred, or future official mappings tied to this CVE.
Open ATT&CK lookup- Severity
- High
- CVSS
- 8.8 (3.1)
- Known Exploited
- Yes
- Published
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
CNA and ADP enrichment extracted from CVE v5
These fields come from the CVE record and ADP containers, not from Glexia's Take. They preserve time-varying source decisions such as CISA SSVC, KEV status, CVSS metrics, and provider references.
CISA KEV status
CVSS vector scores
1 official scoreWe collect every scored CVSS vector available in the official CNA and ADP containers. When more than one version is present, the table keeps the source vectors side by side instead of collapsing them into the highest score.
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H2.85.9Primary CVE scoreVulnerability scoring details
Base CVSS 3.1 score
8.8HighVector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Source materials
- CVE List V5 sourceCVE List V5
- https://support.apple.com/en-us/125884CVE reference
- https://support.apple.com/en-us/125885CVE reference
- https://support.apple.com/en-us/125886CVE reference
- https://support.apple.com/en-us/125889CVE reference
- https://support.apple.com/en-us/125890CVE reference
- https://support.apple.com/en-us/125891CVE reference
- https://support.apple.com/en-us/125892CVE reference
- https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2025-43529CVE reference · government-resource
Products and packages named in the record
CWE details
CWE links open Glexia weakness intelligence pages with official CWE context, developer remediation guidance, and related CVE mappings.
Use After Free
Use After Free represents a recurring weakness pattern that can create exploitable paths when design, validation, or implementation controls are missing.