CVE-2025-43541 Overview
CVE-2025-43541 is a type confusion vulnerability [CWE-843] affecting Apple Safari and multiple Apple operating systems. Processing maliciously crafted web content may lead to an unexpected Safari crash. Apple addressed the issue with improved state handling in the affected components.
The vulnerability affects Safari, iOS, iPadOS, macOS Tahoe, and visionOS. Apple resolved the flaw in Safari 26.2, iOS 18.7.3 and iPadOS 18.7.3, iOS 26.2 and iPadOS 26.2, macOS Tahoe 26.2, and visionOS 26.2. Exploitation requires user interaction, such as visiting an attacker-controlled webpage.
Critical Impact
Remote attackers can trigger a Safari crash through maliciously crafted web content, resulting in denial of service on affected Apple devices.
Affected Products
- Apple Safari (prior to 26.2)
- Apple iOS and iPadOS (prior to 18.7.3 and 26.2)
- Apple macOS Tahoe (prior to 26.2) and Apple visionOS (prior to 26.2)
Discovery Timeline
- 2025-12-17 - CVE-2025-43541 published to NVD
- 2026-06-17 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2025-43541
Vulnerability Analysis
The vulnerability is a type confusion flaw categorized under [CWE-843] (Access of Resource Using Incompatible Type). Type confusion occurs when code assumes an object is of one type while it is actually another. Attackers can exploit this mismatch to trigger unexpected program behavior.
In CVE-2025-43541, processing malicious web content causes Safari's rendering engine to interpret a resource with an incompatible type. This state inconsistency leads to an unexpected crash of the browser process. Apple's fix introduces improved state handling to ensure objects are consistently tracked and validated during web content processing.
Root Cause
The root cause resides in insufficient state validation within the WebKit-based content processing pipeline. When encountering specifically crafted content, the browser fails to maintain accurate type information across state transitions. This inconsistency allows a type mismatch to reach code paths that operate on the wrong assumptions, resulting in an availability impact.
Attack Vector
The attack vector is network-based and requires user interaction. An attacker hosts malicious web content on a page and lures the victim to visit it. Once the user loads the page in Safari or another affected Apple product, the malicious content triggers the type confusion condition. The observed impact is a Safari crash, consistent with the low availability impact rating and no confidentiality or integrity effects.
No public proof-of-concept exploit is currently available, and the vulnerability is not listed in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog. Refer to the Apple Support Document #125884 for vendor details.
Detection Methods for CVE-2025-43541
Indicators of Compromise
- Unexpected Safari process termination or repeated browser crashes correlated with visits to unfamiliar or attacker-controlled domains.
- Crash reports in ~/Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/ referencing Safari or WebKit processes with type-related fault signatures.
- Outbound HTTP requests to URLs delivering unusual JavaScript, WebAssembly, or DOM structures immediately preceding a crash.
Detection Strategies
- Monitor endpoint telemetry for abnormal Safari or com.apple.WebKit.WebContent process exits on macOS, iOS, iPadOS, and visionOS devices.
- Inspect web proxy logs for repeated user visits to newly registered or low-reputation domains coinciding with browser crash events.
- Correlate MDM crash telemetry with browsing history to identify potential exploitation attempts against managed Apple devices.
Monitoring Recommendations
- Enable centralized crash reporting for Apple endpoints and forward reports to a SIEM for correlation with URL and DNS telemetry.
- Track Safari and WebKit process stability metrics across the fleet to detect anomalies indicating exploitation attempts.
- Alert on user reports of unexpected browser terminations tied to specific web pages, particularly after phishing campaigns.
How to Mitigate CVE-2025-43541
Immediate Actions Required
- Update Safari to version 26.2 and upgrade iOS and iPadOS to 18.7.3 or 26.2 on all affected devices.
- Upgrade macOS to macOS Tahoe 26.2 and visionOS to 26.2 across managed endpoints.
- Deploy the updates through MDM policies to enforce compliance across the organization.
Patch Information
Apple released fixes across multiple advisories. See Apple Support Document #125884, Apple Support Document #125885, Apple Support Document #125886, Apple Support Document #125891, and Apple Support Document #125892 for version-specific details and download links.
Workarounds
- Avoid browsing untrusted websites in Safari on unpatched devices until updates are applied.
- Restrict Safari usage in high-risk contexts and route web traffic through a filtering proxy that blocks known malicious domains.
- Enable Lockdown Mode on iOS, iPadOS, and macOS for users at elevated risk of targeted web-based attacks.
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
