Apple Patches CVE-2025-43300 Zero-Day in iOS, iPadOS, and macOS Exploited in Targeted Attacks

CVE-2025-24085 is a use-after-free memory corruption flaw (CWE-416) in multiple Apple operating systems that Apple addressed with improved memory management. It is triggered by a malicious application already running on a vulnerable device, which can exploit the flaw to elevate its privileges. An attacker who tricks a user into installing and running a malicious app could gain elevated rights beyond the app's sandbox. All users of unpatched iPhones, iPads, Macs, Apple TVs, Apple Vision Pro headsets, and Apple Watches are potentially affected, and CISA added the flaw to the Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog on 2025-01-29. Apple has confirmed the issue was actively exploited against versions of iOS before iOS 17.2, indicating in-the-wild exploitation, though no public proof-of-concept is known.

Do: Update devices to iOS/iPadOS 18.3 (or iPadOS 17.7.6 on older devices), macOS Sequoia 15.3 / Sonoma 14.7.5 / Ventura 13.7.5, tvOS 18.3, visionOS 2.3, and watchOS 11.3 as soon as possible. Because Apple reports active exploitation against iOS versions before 17.2, treat any iPhone or iPad still below iOS 17.2 as at elevated risk and prioritize it for patching. Inventory Apple device fleets via MDM and confirm updated OS builds are deployed, given the CISA KEV listing and the ~18% 30-day EPSS score.

CVE-2025-24200 is an incorrect authorization flaw (CWE-863) in Apple iOS and iPadOS, caused by an authorization issue in state management that Apple resolved with improved state handling. An attacker with brief physical access to a locked device can exploit the flaw to disable USB Restricted Mode, the feature that locks down a locked iPhone or iPad's USB data port against accessories after a set period. This allows USB accessories, including data-extraction and attack peripherals, to communicate with the device while it remains locked, with a high confidentiality and integrity impact (CVSS 6.1, physical attack vector). Any iPhone or iPad user running a version prior to the applicable fixed release is affected, with fixes shipped in iOS 15.8.4, iOS 16.7.11, iOS 18.3.1, iPadOS 15.8.4, iPadOS 16.7.11, iPadOS 17.7.5, and iPadOS 18.3.1. Apple reports the flaw may have been exploited in an extremely sophisticated attack against specific targeted individuals, and CISA added it to the Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog on 2025-02-12.

Do: Update iPhones to iOS 15.8.4, iOS 16.7.11, or iOS 18.3.1 and iPads to iPadOS 15.8.4, 16.7.11, 17.7.5, or 18.3.1 as applicable to each device's branch, checking Settings > General > Software Update for unmanaged devices. Because exploitation requires physical access, prioritize high-risk users (executives, journalists, government personnel), confirm no fleet devices remain on unpatched builds, and avoid untrusted USB accessories and charging ports until updated. CISA's KEV listing requires federal agencies to apply the vendor patch per the required action or discontinue use of the product.

CVE-2025-24201 is an out-of-bounds write (CWE-787) in WebKit, the web rendering engine used across Apple's platforms, which Apple addressed with improved bounds checks. It is triggered by processing maliciously crafted web content, meaning a victim only has to load attacker-controlled web content in Safari or in any app that renders web content. A successful attacker can break out of the Web Content sandbox and perform unauthorized actions, an impact CISA scores at CVSS 10.0 (critical, scope-changing). Affected users include anyone running vulnerable versions of iOS, iPadOS, macOS Sequoia, Safari, visionOS, or watchOS; Debian Linux is also listed in the CPE data because Debian ships WebKit in its webkit packages. Apple reports the flaw may have been exploited in an extremely sophisticated attack against specific targeted individuals on versions of iOS before iOS 17.2 (this patch is a supplementary fix for that previously blocked attack, extended to older branches), and the CVE was added to CISA's KEV catalog on 2025-03-13.

Do: Apply the vendor fixes immediately: Safari 18.3.1; iOS/iPadOS 18.3.2 (or 17.7.6, 16.7.11, or 15.8.4 on devices that cannot run the newest release); macOS Sequoia 15.3.2; visionOS 2.3.2; watchOS 11.4; and updated Debian webkit packages per Debian advisories. Because the CVE is in CISA's KEV catalog (added 2025-03-13), US federal agencies must patch per BOD 22-01, and all defenders should prioritize fleets with high-risk or frequently targeted users. Given the 'extremely sophisticated' targeted exploitation against individuals on iOS before 17.2, check whether targeted or high-value users' devices show indicators of compromise and ensure they are not left on older branches.

CVE-2025-31200 is a memory corruption flaw (CWE-119) in Apple's audio stream handling, fixed with improved bounds checking, that allows code execution when a device processes an audio stream in a maliciously crafted media file. An attacker who can deliver such a file to a vulnerable Apple device can gain arbitrary code execution with full confidentiality, integrity, and availability impact (CVSS 3.1: 9.8 critical, network vector). Affected products are iOS, iPadOS, macOS (Sequoia), tvOS, visionOS, and watchOS on versions released before the April 2025 fixes. Apple stated the issue was exploited in an extremely sophisticated attack against specific targeted individuals on iOS versions before 18.4.1, and CISA added it to the KEV on 2025-04-17; EPSS estimates a 19.7% (97th percentile) probability of exploitation within 30 days. Public analyses describe it chained with the WebKit flaw CVE-2025-31201, which Apple patched in the same emergency updates.

Do: Update all Apple devices immediately: iOS/iPadOS 18.4.1 or later, macOS Sequoia 15.4.1 or later, tvOS 18.4.1 or later, visionOS 2.4.1 or later, and watchOS 11.5 or later; the same updates also fix the related actively exploited WebKit zero-day CVE-2025-31201. The flaw is in CISA KEV (added 2025-04-17), so US federal agencies must apply the updates per BOD 22-01 or discontinue use. Verify installed OS versions in Settings > General > About (iOS/iPadOS) or About This Mac, and prioritize high-risk/targeted users for immediate patching and review.

CVE-2025-43200 is a logic issue in Apple's operating systems that occurs when processing a maliciously crafted photo or video shared via an iCloud Link (CISA catalogs it as an unspecified vulnerability across Apple iOS, iPadOS, macOS, visionOS, and watchOS). An attacker must get a user to open the crafted shared-media link, and the CVSS 4.2 score indicates network delivery with high attack complexity, user interaction, and low-severity confidentiality and integrity impact, making the flaw most useful as a step in a larger attack chain. Apple states the issue was exploited in an "extremely sophisticated attack against specific targeted individuals," and related reporting links the February 2025 updates to actively exploited WebKit flaws and a Paragon spyware campaign against European journalists. The vulnerability was added to CISA's Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog on 2025-06-16; no public proof-of-concept is known, and EPSS estimates roughly a 1.0% chance of further exploitation in the next 30 days (62nd percentile). Anyone running iOS/iPadOS 15-18, macOS Ventura through Sequoia, visionOS, or watchOS on versions older than the listed fixes is affected.

Do: Update iOS to 15.8.4, 16.7.11, or 18.3.1; iPadOS to 15.8.4, 16.7.11, 17.7.5, or 18.3.1 as applicable; macOS to Sequoia 15.3.1, Sonoma 14.7.4, or Ventura 13.7.4; visionOS to 2.3.1; and watchOS to 11.3.1. Until patched, treat iCloud Links (shared photo/video links) from unknown senders with caution and use MDM to identify fleets still running pre-fix versions. US federal agencies must apply the vendor fixes per BOD 22-01 requirements given the KEV listing, and organizations at risk of targeted spyware should hunt for signs of post-exploitation on affected devices.

CVE-2025-43300 is an out-of-bounds write (CWE-787) in the Image I/O (ImageIO) framework used by Apple iOS, iPadOS, and macOS. It can be triggered when a device processes a specially crafted image file, corrupting memory in the image-parsing process. Successful exploitation may cause application crashes or allow arbitrary code execution with the privileges of the application handling the image. Because ImageIO is a core system component on essentially every Apple device, virtually all users of iPhones, iPads, and Macs are exposed. The flaw is being exploited in the wild — CISA added it to the KEV catalog on 2025-08-21, mandating patching per BOD 22-01 for federal agencies — and EPSS estimates a 22% probability of exploitation in the next 30 days (98th percentile); no public PoC is known and ransomware use is unconfirmed.

Do: Apply Apple's security updates for iOS, iPadOS, and macOS issued in August 2025 (e.g., iOS 18.6.1 / iPadOS 18.6.1 and macOS Sequoia 15.6.1) on all devices, prioritizing user-facing fleets and agencies bound by BOD 22-01 deadlines. Until devices are patched, exercise caution with images from untrusted sources (email, messaging, web content), since no compensating mitigations are specified. Note that the source data does not enumerate exact affected builds, so verify coverage against Apple's advisory and CISA KEV required actions.

CVE-2025-6558 is an improper input validation flaw (CWE-20) in the ANGLE graphics translation layer and GPU processing code of Google Chrome/Chromium prior to version 138.0.7204.157. A remote attacker can trigger it by convincing a user to open a crafted HTML page (user interaction is required), and successful exploitation potentially enables a sandbox escape from the browser's renderer with high impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability. Per the CPE data, exposure extends beyond Chrome to Debian's Chromium package, Apple Safari and its operating systems (iOS, iPadOS, macOS, visionOS, watchOS), and the WebKitGTK and WPE WebKit ports, consistent with the shared ANGLE/WebKit code. Google fixed the issue in Chrome 138.0.7204.157, and CISA added the flaw to the KEV catalog on 2025-07-22, confirming active exploitation in the wild (ransomware use: unknown). EPSS assigns a 9.6% probability of exploitation within 30 days (95th percentile); no public proof-of-concept is known.

Do: Upgrade Google Chrome/Chromium to 138.0.7204.157 or later immediately, as the flaw is being actively exploited and is KEV-listed. Debian users should install the distribution's patched Chromium package, and operators of Apple platforms, WebKitGTK, or WPE WebKit deployments should apply the corresponding vendor security updates. Federal agencies must apply vendor mitigations per BOD 22-01 within the required timeframe or discontinue use if mitigations are unavailable.