CVE-2025-43520

KEVApple Multiple Products Classic Buffer Overflow Vulnerability

Description

Apple watchOS, iOS, iPadOS, macOS, visionOS, and tvOS contain a classic buffer overflow vulnerability which could allow a malicious application to cause unexpected system termination or write kernel memory.

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.

CVSS 3.1 vectorCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H

PublishedDec 12, 2025

Last modifiedOct 7, 2026

Added to KEVMar 20, 2026

Remediation dueApr 3, 2026

References

support.apple.com/en-us/125632Release NotesVendor Advisory
support.apple.com/en-us/125633Release NotesVendor Advisory
support.apple.com/en-us/125634Release NotesVendor Advisory
support.apple.com/en-us/125635Release NotesVendor Advisory
support.apple.com/en-us/125636Release NotesVendor Advisory
support.apple.com/en-us/125637Release NotesVendor Advisory
support.apple.com/en-us/125638Release NotesVendor Advisory
support.apple.com/en-us/125639Release NotesVendor Advisory
cloud.google.com/blog/topics/threat-intelligence/darksword-ios-exploit-chain/Technical Description
cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2025-43520US Government Resource

0 recent articles mention this CVE

Risk assessment · Medium

Actively exploited. Patch immediately.

Exploitation: Confirmed in the wild (CISA KEV)
Federal remediation deadline: Overdue by 206 days
CVSS: 5.5 MEDIUM
EPSS (30-day exploit probability): 0.43% · top 63% of all CVEs
Weakness: CWE-120

Recommended actions

1.Apply mitigations per vendor instructions, follow applicable BOD 22-01 guidance for cloud services, or discontinue use of the product if mitigations are unavailable.
2.Treat as emergency change: patch or isolate internet-facing instances first.
3.Hunt for compromise: review logs for the disclosure window, not just from the patch date.

Assessment is derived automatically from the live signals above; verify against your own asset inventory.