CVE-2025-43391: Apple iPadOS Information Disclosure Flaw

CVE-2025-43391 Overview

CVE-2025-43391 is an information disclosure vulnerability in Apple operating systems caused by improper handling of temporary files. An application on an affected device can access sensitive user data that should remain isolated. Apple addressed the issue by improving how temporary files are created and managed.

The flaw affects iOS, iPadOS, and multiple macOS releases. Exploitation requires local access and user interaction, but no privileges are needed on the target system. The vulnerability is classified under [CWE-200: Exposure of Sensitive Information to an Unauthorized Actor].

Critical Impact
A malicious app installed on an affected Apple device can read sensitive user data through insecurely handled temporary files.

Affected Products

Apple iOS versions prior to 26.1 and iPadOS versions prior to 26.1
Apple macOS Sequoia prior to 15.7.2 and macOS Sonoma prior to 14.8.2
Apple macOS Tahoe prior to 26.1

Discovery Timeline

2025-11-04 - CVE-2025-43391 published to the National Vulnerability Database (NVD)
2026-06-17 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2025-43391

Vulnerability Analysis

CVE-2025-43391 is a local information disclosure flaw rooted in insecure temporary file handling within Apple operating systems. When system or application components write intermediate data to temporary storage, the files can be accessed by processes that should not have visibility into that data. A locally installed application can read this data and expose information tied to the user session.

The issue is categorized as [CWE-200]. Apple's advisory states the fix improves the handling of temporary files, which typically means tighter permissions, safer file locations, or atomic creation semantics that prevent shared-directory race conditions and world-readable artifacts.

Root Cause

The root cause is improper handling of temporary files by an affected Apple system component. Temporary files were created or retained in a manner that allowed another application on the same device to access their contents. Apple's remediation notes explicitly cite improved handling as the corrective action.

Attack Vector

Exploitation requires a malicious or curious application already present on the device. The attacker's app monitors known temporary file locations or leverages predictable file paths to read data written by the vulnerable component. User interaction is required, consistent with a scenario in which the victim installs and runs a third-party app that then performs the read.

No verified proof-of-concept code is publicly available for CVE-2025-43391, and the vulnerability is not listed on the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog.

Detection Methods for CVE-2025-43391

Indicators of Compromise

Third-party applications performing repeated reads against system temporary directories such as /tmp, /private/tmp, or per-user Caches paths.
Unexpected file access telemetry from sandboxed apps touching files created by other processes.
Presence of iOS, iPadOS, or macOS builds older than the fixed versions listed in the Apple security advisory.

Detection Strategies

Inventory Apple endpoints and flag devices running iOS/iPadOS below 26.1, macOS Sonoma below 14.8.2, macOS Sequoia below 15.7.2, or macOS Tahoe below 26.1.
Review Mobile Device Management (MDM) compliance reports to identify devices that have not applied the November 2025 Apple security updates.
Correlate application install events with subsequent reads of system-level temporary directories on macOS endpoints.

Monitoring Recommendations

Enable file access auditing on macOS endpoints for temporary directories and per-app caches.
Monitor App Store and enterprise app deployments for newly installed third-party apps on managed devices.
Track Apple security advisories referenced in Apple Support Document #125634 for future component-level disclosures.

How to Mitigate CVE-2025-43391

Immediate Actions Required

Update all Apple devices to iOS 26.1, iPadOS 26.1, macOS Sequoia 15.7.2, macOS Sonoma 14.8.2, or macOS Tahoe 26.1 as applicable.
Push updates via MDM to enforce the fixed versions across enterprise fleets.
Restrict installation of untrusted third-party applications until affected devices are patched.

Patch Information

Apple has released fixes in iOS 26.1, iPadOS 26.1, macOS Sequoia 15.7.2, macOS Sonoma 14.8.2, and macOS Tahoe 26.1. Refer to Apple Support Document #125632, Apple Support Document #125635, and Apple Support Document #125636 for platform-specific release notes and installation guidance.

Workarounds

Limit application installation to vetted App Store or enterprise-signed apps to reduce exposure until patches are applied.
Use MDM configuration profiles to enforce restrictions on unmanaged applications.
Educate users to avoid installing untrusted apps that request broad file access permissions.

bash

# Verify installed macOS version and confirm it meets the fixed release
sw_vers -productVersion

# For managed fleets, query device OS version via MDM (example: jamf)
# jamf policy -event checkOSVersion