CVE-2025-43429

Vulnerability

CVE-2025-43429 is a buffer overflow issue in WebKit, the browser engine used by Safari and other Apple applications. The root cause is insufficient bounds checking when processing web content. Apple addressed the flaw with improved bounds validation.

Exploitation

An attacker can exploit this vulnerability by crafting malicious web content that, when processed by a vulnerable version of WebKit, triggers the buffer overflow. No special privileges are required; the victim simply needs to visit a malicious webpage or view the content in an application that uses WebKit. The attack surface is primarily remote but relies on user interaction (e.g., clicking a link). [1][2][3][4]

Impact

Successful exploitation could lead to an unexpected process crash, resulting in a denial of service. Apple's description notes only a crash, not code execution, though buffer overflows can sometimes be leveraged further. This vulnerability could be used to disrupt browsing sessions or crash applications that render web content.

Mitigation

Apple has released security updates across multiple operating systems: iOS 18.7.2/26.1, iPadOS 18.7.2/26.1, macOS Tahoe 26.1, tvOS 26.1, visionOS 26.1, watchOS 26.1, and Safari 26.1. The vulnerability is fixed in these versions. Users are advised to update their devices promptly via the Software Update mechanism. [1][2][3][4]