CVE-2025-43226
📋 TL;DR
This vulnerability allows an attacker to read memory outside the intended buffer when processing a malicious image. It affects Apple devices running vulnerable versions of watchOS, iOS, iPadOS, tvOS, macOS, and visionOS. Successful exploitation could leak sensitive process memory.
💻 Affected Systems
- watchOS
- iOS
- iPadOS
- tvOS
- macOS
- visionOS
📦 What is this software?
Ipados by Apple
Ipados by Apple
Macos by Apple
macOS is Apple's desktop and laptop operating system powering Mac computers used by millions of professionals, developers, creative professionals, and enterprise users worldwide. Built on a Unix foundation with the Darwin kernel and modern Cocoa frameworks, macOS delivers a seamless ecosystem integr...
Learn more about Macos →Macos by Apple
macOS is Apple's desktop and laptop operating system powering Mac computers used by millions of professionals, developers, creative professionals, and enterprise users worldwide. Built on a Unix foundation with the Darwin kernel and modern Cocoa frameworks, macOS delivers a seamless ecosystem integr...
Learn more about Macos →Tvos by Apple
Watchos by Apple
⚠️ Risk & Real-World Impact
Worst Case
Disclosure of sensitive process memory containing authentication tokens, encryption keys, or other confidential data
Likely Case
Limited memory disclosure of non-critical process data
If Mitigated
No impact if patched or if malicious images are blocked
🎯 Exploit Status
Requires user to open/process a maliciously crafted image file
🛠️ Fix & Mitigation
✅ Official Fix
Patch Version: watchOS 11.6, iOS 18.6 and iPadOS 18.6, iPadOS 17.7.9, tvOS 18.6, macOS Sequoia 15.6, macOS Sonoma 14.7.7, visionOS 2.6
Vendor Advisory: https://support.apple.com/en-us/124147
Restart Required: Yes
Instructions:
1. Go to Settings > General > Software Update on iOS/iPadOS/watchOS/tvOS/visionOS. 2. Install available updates. 3. For macOS: Apple menu > System Settings > General > Software Update. 4. Install updates and restart devices.
🔧 Temporary Workarounds
Block suspicious image files
allUse content filtering to block potentially malicious image files from untrusted sources
Disable automatic image processing
allConfigure applications to not automatically process images from untrusted sources
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Restrict image processing to trusted sources only
- Implement network segmentation to limit potential data exfiltration
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Check current OS version against affected versions listCheck Version:
iOS/iPadOS: Settings > General > About > Version. macOS: Apple menu > About This Mac. watchOS: Watch app > General > About. tvOS: Settings > General > About. visionOS: Settings > General > About.Verify Fix Applied:
Verify OS version matches or exceeds patched versions listed📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- Application crashes when processing image files
- Unusual memory access patterns in process logs
Network Indicators:
- Unexpected outbound connections after image processing
- Data exfiltration patterns
SIEM Query:
Process logs showing image processing applications accessing unusual memory addresses or crashing🔗 References
- https://support.apple.com/en-us/124147
- https://support.apple.com/en-us/124148
- https://support.apple.com/en-us/124149
- https://support.apple.com/en-us/124150
- https://support.apple.com/en-us/124153
- https://support.apple.com/en-us/124154
- https://support.apple.com/en-us/124155
- http://seclists.org/fulldisclosure/2025/Jul/30
- http://seclists.org/fulldisclosure/2025/Jul/31
- http://seclists.org/fulldisclosure/2025/Jul/32
- http://seclists.org/fulldisclosure/2025/Jul/33
- http://seclists.org/fulldisclosure/2025/Jul/35
- http://seclists.org/fulldisclosure/2025/Jul/36
- http://seclists.org/fulldisclosure/2025/Jul/37
