CVE-2025-43478: Use After Free

Published Nov 3, 2025
·
Updated

A use after free issue was addressed with improved memory management. This issue is fixed in macOS Sequoia 15.7.2, macOS Sonoma 14.8.2, macOS Tahoe 26.1. An app may be able to cause unexpected system termination.

Other sources

Admin Framework. A logic issue was addressed with improved checks.

— Apple

Admin Framework. The issue was addressed with improved checks.

— Apple

App Store. A logging issue was addressed with improved data redaction.

— Apple

Apple Account. A privacy issue was addressed with improved checks.

— Apple

Apple Neural Engine. The issue was addressed with improved memory handling.

— Apple

Credit

Ryan Dowd@@_rdowd, Csaba Fitzl@@theevilbit(Kandji), Nolan Astrein(Kandji), Mickey Jin@@patch1t, Gergely Kalman@@gergely_kalman, an anonymous researcher, Joseph Ravichandran@@0xjprx(MIT CSAIL), Dave G. (supernetworks.org), JZ, Zhongcheng Li(IES Red Team of ByteDance), Michael Reeves@@IntegralPilot, Duy Trần@@khanhduytran0, Morris Richman@@morrisinlife, Hikerell (Loadshine Lab), 이동하 (Lee Dong Ha(BoB 14th), wac(Trend Micro Zero Day Initiative), Hossein Lotfi@@hosselot(Trend Micro Zero Day Initiative), Adwiteeya Agrawal, Rodolphe BRUNETTI@@eisw0lf(Lupus Nova), pattern-f@@pattern_F_, Ferdous Saljooki@@malwarezoo(Jamf), Murray Mike, Cristian Dinca (icmd.tech), Apple, Dave G.(supernetworks), Alex Radocea(supernetworks), Romain Lebesle(Khatima), Himanshu Bharti@@Xpl0itme(Khatima), Taavi Eomäe(Zone Media), Michael DePlante@@izobashi(Trend Micro Zero Day Initiative), BynarIO AI (bynar.io), Kirin@@Pwnrin, Atul R V, Asaf Cohen, CVE-2024-43398, CVE-2024-49761, CVE-2025-6442, Vivek Dhar, ASI (RM) in Border Security Force, FTR HQ BSF Kashmir, Nikolai Skliarenko(Trend Micro Zero Day Initiative), Kirin@@Pwnrin(Microsoft), Jonathan Bar Or@@yo_yo_yo_jbo(Microsoft), Wang Yu(Cyberserval), 이동하 (Lee Dong Ha)(SSA Lab), Alexia Wilson(Microsoft), Christine Fossaceca(Microsoft), CVE-2025-6965, Ron Masas(BreakPoint), Pinak Oza, Wojciech Regula(SecuRing), Kirin@@Pwnrin(Fudan University), LFY@@secsys(Fudan University), Kenneth Chew, Rodolphe Brunetti@@eisw0lf(Lupus Nova), @@EthanArbuckle, iisBuri, Google Threat Analysis Group, Doug Hogan, KPC(Cisco Talos), @@RenwaX23, Zhongquan Li@@Guluisacat, Stanislav Jelezoglo, an anonymous researcher(Microsoft), Amy@@asentientbot, CVE-2025-32462, CVE-2025-53906, Aleksejs Popovs, Phil Beauvoir, Google Big Sleep, Gary Kwong, rheza@@ginggilBesel, Justin Cohen(Google), Nan Wang@@eternalsakura13, rheza@@ginggilBesel(Trend Micro Zero Day Initiative), shandikri(Trend Micro Zero Day Initiative), Gary Kwong(Trend Micro Zero Day Initiative), Tom Van Goethem, @@cloudlldb

Affected Software

5 affected componentsFixes available
Apple macOS Tahoe<26.1
26.1
Apple macOS Sequoia<15.7.2
15.7.2
Apple macOS Sonoma<14.8.2
14.8.2
Apple macOS>=14.0<14.8.2
Apple macOS>=15.0<15.7.2

Remediation

Recommended actions to resolve this vulnerability, in priority order.

  1. Upgrade

    Upgrade to a fixed release to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 15.7.2
  2. Upgrade

    Upgrade to a fixed release to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 14.8.2
  3. Upgrade

    Upgrade to a fixed release to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 26.1
  4. Configuration

    Implement the macOS fix that improves validation of symlinks to address the directory-path parsing/validation issue.

    macOS symlink validation = improved

Event History

Nov 3, 2025
Data Sourced
via Apple·12:00 AM
DescriptionWeaknessAffected Software
Updated
via Apple·12:00 AM
DescriptionWeakness
Updated
via Apple·12:00 AM
Description
Updated
via Apple·12:00 AM
DescriptionWeaknessAffected Software
Updated
via Apple·12:00 AM
WeaknessAffected Software
Updated
via Apple·12:00 AM
DescriptionAffected Software
Updated
via Apple·12:00 AM
Affected Software
Nov 4, 2025
CVE Published
via MITRE·01:15 AM
Data Sourced
via MITRE·01:15 AM
DescriptionWeakness
Data Sourced
via NVD·02:15 AM
DescriptionSeverityWeaknessAffected Software

Parent advisories

This vulnerability appears in the following advisories.

Peer vulnerabilities

Found alongside the following vulnerabilities.

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Frequently Asked Questions

1

What is the severity of CVE-2025-43478?

CVE-2025-43478 has a high severity rating due to the potential for unexpected system termination.

2

How do I fix CVE-2025-43478?

CVE-2025-43478 can be fixed by updating to macOS Sonoma 14.8.2 or macOS Sequoia 15.7.2.

3

Which versions of macOS are affected by CVE-2025-43478?

CVE-2025-43478 affects macOS Tahoe versions below 26.1, macOS Sequoia below 15.7.2, and macOS Sonoma below 14.8.2.

4

What is the nature of the issue described in CVE-2025-43478?

CVE-2025-43478 is a use after free issue that involves improved memory management.

5

Can CVE-2025-43478 affect application performance?

Yes, CVE-2025-43478 can cause unexpected application crashes and system termination, affecting overall performance.

Company

Resources

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