CVE-2025-43445: Apple iPadOS Buffer Overflow Vulnerability

CVE-2025-43445 Overview

CVE-2025-43445 is an out-of-bounds read vulnerability [CWE-125] affecting multiple Apple operating systems. Processing a maliciously crafted media file may lead to unexpected app termination or corrupt process memory. Apple addressed the issue through improved input validation across iOS, iPadOS, macOS, tvOS, visionOS, and watchOS.

The flaw requires user interaction to trigger, such as opening or previewing a crafted media file. Successful exploitation does not yield code execution or data disclosure directly, but memory corruption in a process can serve as a primitive for chained attacks.

Critical Impact
Processing a maliciously crafted media file may lead to unexpected app termination or corrupt process memory across Apple's operating system ecosystem.

Affected Products

Apple iOS and iPadOS prior to 18.7.2 and 26.1
Apple macOS Sequoia prior to 15.7.2, macOS Sonoma prior to 14.8.2, and macOS Tahoe prior to 26.1
Apple tvOS, visionOS, and watchOS prior to 26.1

Discovery Timeline

2025-11-04 - CVE-2025-43445 published to the National Vulnerability Database
2026-06-17 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2025-43445

Vulnerability Analysis

The vulnerability is classified as an out-of-bounds read [CWE-125] in media file processing components shared across Apple's operating systems. When a vulnerable component parses a crafted media file, it reads memory beyond the intended buffer boundary. This condition results in either unexpected application termination or corruption of process memory state.

Apple's advisories indicate the fix consists of improved input validation. This suggests the original parser did not adequately verify size fields, offsets, or structural constraints within the media file before dereferencing memory locations derived from attacker-controlled values.

Root Cause

The root cause is insufficient bounds checking during media file parsing. Attacker-controlled fields within the file structure influence read offsets or lengths used by the parser. Without proper validation, the parser accesses memory outside the allocated buffer, exposing adjacent process memory to logic that was not designed to handle it.

Attack Vector

Exploitation requires the victim to process a maliciously crafted media file. Delivery vectors include email attachments, messaging apps, web downloads, and shared cloud files. The attack is network-reachable but requires user interaction to open or preview the file. Impact is limited to availability, with potential secondary effects if the memory corruption is chained with other primitives.

No verified public exploit code is available for this vulnerability. See the Apple Security Advisory #125632 for vendor technical context.

Detection Methods for CVE-2025-43445

Indicators of Compromise

Repeated crashes of media-handling processes such as MediaLibraryService, Preview, or QuickLook with faulting addresses outside expected buffer ranges
Crash reports containing EXC_BAD_ACCESS signals during media file parsing on unpatched Apple endpoints
Delivery of unusual media file types from untrusted email senders or messaging channels

Detection Strategies

Monitor endpoint crash telemetry for media parser terminations correlated with recently received attachments
Correlate file delivery events with subsequent process crashes to identify targeted delivery attempts
Inspect email and messaging gateways for anomalous media MIME types or malformed container headers

Monitoring Recommendations

Aggregate macOS and iOS diagnostic crash logs into a centralized SIEM for pattern analysis
Track OS version inventory across managed Apple devices to identify systems still exposed to CVE-2025-43445
Alert on media file execution paths from recently downloaded content in user download directories

How to Mitigate CVE-2025-43445

Immediate Actions Required

Update Apple devices to iOS 18.7.2, iPadOS 18.7.2, iOS 26.1, iPadOS 26.1, macOS Sequoia 15.7.2, macOS Sonoma 14.8.2, macOS Tahoe 26.1, tvOS 26.1, visionOS 26.1, or watchOS 26.1
Prioritize patching for high-risk user groups such as executives, journalists, and administrators
Communicate the risk of opening unsolicited media files from untrusted senders until all endpoints are updated

Patch Information

Apple released fixes across its operating system portfolio. Refer to the Apple Security Advisory #125632, #125633, #125634, #125635, #125636, #125637, #125638, and #125639 for version-specific guidance.

Workarounds

Disable automatic media previews in mail and messaging clients where feasible
Block or quarantine media attachments from untrusted external senders at the email gateway
Enforce mobile device management (MDM) policies to accelerate OS update compliance across the Apple fleet

bash

# Verify current macOS version against patched release
sw_vers -productVersion

# Trigger software update check on macOS
sudo softwareupdate --list
sudo softwareupdate --install --all --restart