CVE-2025-43507: Apple iPadOS Information Disclosure Issue

CVE-2025-43507 Overview

CVE-2025-43507 is a privacy vulnerability affecting multiple Apple operating systems. The flaw allows an application to fingerprint the user by accessing data that should not have been available to it. Apple addressed the issue by relocating sensitive data to a protected context. The vulnerability is associated with [CWE-276: Incorrect Default Permissions].

Apple resolved the issue in iOS 18.7.2, iPadOS 18.7.2, iOS 26.1, iPadOS 26.1, macOS Tahoe 26.1, visionOS 26.1, and watchOS 26.1. No public exploit code exists, and the flaw is not listed in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog.

Critical Impact
A malicious or curious application installed on an affected device can enumerate identifying attributes to fingerprint the user, undermining privacy protections that isolate apps from device-level identifiers.

Affected Products

Apple iOS and iPadOS (fixed in 18.7.2 and 26.1)
Apple macOS Tahoe (fixed in 26.1) and visionOS (fixed in 26.1)
Apple watchOS (fixed in 26.1)

Discovery Timeline

2025-11-04 - CVE-2025-43507 published to NVD
2026-06-17 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2025-43507

Vulnerability Analysis

The vulnerability stems from sensitive data being exposed in a context accessible to installed applications. On Apple platforms, apps run in sandboxes intended to prevent access to device-level identifiers and cross-app signals. When system data that can uniquely identify a device or user is readable from within that sandbox, an app can combine those attributes to build a persistent fingerprint.

Fingerprinting bypasses user consent mechanisms such as advertising identifier reset and App Tracking Transparency. An app that constructs a stable fingerprint can correlate the same user across sessions, reinstalls, and other applications from the same publisher. This impacts confidentiality of user identity data.

Apple's fix moved the sensitive data out of reach of unprivileged callers, which aligns with the [CWE-276] weakness class where default permissions on a resource are broader than intended.

Root Cause

The root cause is incorrect default permissions on a system resource. Data that should have required elevated entitlements or user consent was readable by any installed app running under the standard sandbox profile.

Attack Vector

Exploitation requires an attacker to distribute an application to the target device, such as through the App Store or an enterprise distribution channel. Once installed, the app queries the exposed data source and derives identifying attributes without triggering permission prompts. No user interaction beyond installation is required, and no elevated privileges are needed.

No public proof-of-concept code is available. Refer to the Apple Support Document #125632 and related advisories for platform-specific details.

Detection Methods for CVE-2025-43507

Indicators of Compromise

No file-based or network indicators have been published for CVE-2025-43507. Fingerprinting activity leaves minimal forensic residue on the device.
Applications making unexpected calls to system information APIs shortly after launch may warrant review.

Detection Strategies

Inventory installed applications on managed Apple devices and compare against an approved application list maintained by mobile device management (MDM).
Review App Store or enterprise-signed apps requesting broad system information access and correlate publisher reputation.
Monitor MDM compliance reports for devices running OS versions below the patched builds.

Monitoring Recommendations

Track OS version compliance across the fleet and flag devices still running iOS or iPadOS below 18.7.2, or any Apple OS below the 26.1 release line.
Alert on installation of apps from unfamiliar developers, particularly those requesting privacy-sensitive entitlements.
Review privacy reports available in iOS Settings for anomalous data access patterns by installed apps.

How to Mitigate CVE-2025-43507

Immediate Actions Required

Update all Apple devices to iOS 18.7.2, iPadOS 18.7.2, iOS 26.1, iPadOS 26.1, macOS Tahoe 26.1, visionOS 26.1, or watchOS 26.1.
Enforce minimum OS version policies through MDM to prevent downgrade or drift.
Remove untrusted applications from managed devices and restrict installation sources.

Patch Information

Apple released fixes across the affected platforms. Detailed advisories are available in Apple Support Document #125632, Apple Support Document #125633, Apple Support Document #125634, Apple Support Document #125638, and Apple Support Document #125639.

Workarounds

No official workaround exists. Applying the vendor patch is the only supported remediation.
Reduce exposure by limiting app installations to vetted publishers and disabling sideloading where policy permits.
Enable App Tracking Transparency restrictions and review per-app privacy settings to reduce the value of collected identifiers.

bash

# Example MDM query to identify non-compliant iOS devices
# (pseudocode - adapt to your MDM platform's query syntax)
query: device.os == "iOS" AND device.os_version < "18.7.2"
action: notify_user AND enforce_update