CVE-2025-43460: Apple iPadOS Information Disclosure Flaw

CVE-2025-43460 Overview

CVE-2025-43460 is an information disclosure vulnerability in Apple iOS and iPadOS. A logic issue in the operating system allows an attacker with physical access to a locked device to view sensitive user information without unlocking it. Apple addressed the flaw in iOS 26.1 and iPadOS 26.1 by adding improved checks to the affected logic path. The weakness is classified under CWE-200: Exposure of Sensitive Information to an Unauthorized Actor.

Critical Impact
An attacker with brief physical possession of a locked iPhone or iPad can view sensitive user data without authentication, bypassing the device lock screen protections.

Affected Products

Apple iOS versions prior to 26.1
Apple iPadOS versions prior to 26.1
Devices running these operating systems on iPhone and iPad hardware

Discovery Timeline

2025-11-04 - CVE-2025-43460 published to the National Vulnerability Database
2026-06-17 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2025-43460

Vulnerability Analysis

The issue resides in a logic path that governs what content the operating system surfaces while the device is in a locked state. Apple's advisory states that the flaw was addressed with improved checks, indicating that the lock-state validation before rendering or exposing certain user content was incomplete.

Because the attack vector is physical, exploitation requires the adversary to have direct access to the target device. No network access, credentials, or user interaction are required once the attacker holds the device. The impact is limited to confidentiality; the vulnerability does not allow modification of data or disruption of device availability.

Sensitive information exposed through this class of lock screen bypass typically includes notifications, message previews, contact details, media, or application content that should only be accessible after successful authentication.

Root Cause

The root cause is a logic error in code that determines whether the device is authorized to display or return specific user data. The relevant state check either missed a code path or evaluated the lock state incorrectly, allowing the sensitive content surface to bypass the intended authentication gate.

Attack Vector

Exploitation requires physical access to a locked iPhone or iPad. The attacker interacts with the device using its standard input surfaces to trigger the vulnerable code path and view protected content. Apple's advisory does not publicly document the specific interaction sequence, and no public proof-of-concept has been observed.

The vulnerability manifests when the operating system renders or returns user data through the vulnerable component while ignoring the current lock state. See the Apple Support advisory for iOS 26.1 and iPadOS 26.1 for the official description.

Detection Methods for CVE-2025-43460

Indicators of Compromise

Physical exploitation of this flaw leaves no reliable forensic artifacts on the device itself.
Suspicious physical handling of corporate iPhones or iPads, such as unattended devices in shared spaces, should be treated as a potential exposure event.
Reports from users describing unfamiliar content appearing on the lock screen or unexpected notification behavior.

Detection Strategies

Query mobile device management (MDM) inventory for iOS and iPadOS builds below 26.1 to identify unpatched devices at risk.
Correlate device loss, theft, or unattended-device incident tickets with users holding access to sensitive corporate data.
Monitor MDM compliance dashboards for devices that have not checked in with the required OS baseline after the patch window.

Monitoring Recommendations

Enforce OS version compliance policies in your MDM platform and generate alerts when a managed device falls below iOS or iPadOS 26.1.
Track physical loss and theft reports through IT service management workflows and trigger remote wipe procedures when devices are unaccounted for.
Review lock screen notification and widget policies to reduce the volume of sensitive content that any lock screen bypass could expose.

How to Mitigate CVE-2025-43460

Immediate Actions Required

Update all iPhone devices to iOS 26.1 and all iPad devices to iPadOS 26.1 or later.
Push the update through your MDM platform and enforce a deadline for user compliance.
For devices that cannot immediately update, restrict lock screen access to notifications, wallet, control center, and Siri.
Ensure Find My iPhone and remote wipe capabilities are enabled on all managed devices.

Patch Information

Apple fixed CVE-2025-43460 in iOS 26.1 and iPadOS 26.1. Full details are available in the Apple Support Article for iOS 26.1 and iPadOS 26.1. Deploy the update through automatic updates, user-initiated installation via Settings > General > Software Update, or MDM-managed installation.

Workarounds

Reduce lock screen data exposure by disabling notification previews under Settings > Notifications > Show Previews > When Unlocked.
Disable Control Center, Wallet, Siri, and Home Control access from the lock screen under Settings > Face ID & Passcode.
Enforce a strong alphanumeric passcode and enable Data Protection through the device passcode setting.
Instruct users not to leave devices unattended in public or semi-trusted environments until the patch is applied.

bash

# Example MDM compliance rule (conceptual)
# Enforce minimum OS version to remediate CVE-2025-43460
platform: iOS
minimum_os_version: "26.1"
action_on_violation: block_corporate_access
notification: "Update to iOS/iPadOS 26.1 to remediate CVE-2025-43460"