CVE-2025-43538: Input Validation

Published Dec 12, 2025
·
Updated

A logging issue was addressed with improved data redaction. This issue is fixed in iOS 18.7.3 and iPadOS 18.7.3, iOS 26.2 and iPadOS 26.2, macOS Sonoma 14.8.3, macOS Tahoe 26.2, visionOS 26.2, watchOS 26.2. An app may be able to access sensitive user data.

Other sources

App Store. A permissions issue was addressed with additional restrictions.

— Apple

AppleJPEG. The issue was addressed with improved bounds checks.

— Apple

AppleMobileFileIntegrity. A downgrade issue affecting Intel-based Mac computers was addressed with additional code-signing restrictions.

— Apple

AppleMobileFileIntegrity. A permissions issue was addressed with additional restrictions.

— Apple

AppSandbox. A logic issue was addressed with improved file handling.

— Apple

Credit

Michael Reeves@@IntegralPilot, an anonymous researcher, Jex Amro, Wojciech Regula(SecuRing), Riley Walz, CVE-2024-7264, CVE-2025-9086, Noah Gregory (wts.dev), Andrew Calvano(Meta Product Security), Lucas Pinheiro(Meta Product Security), Andreas Jaegersberger & Ro Achterberg(Nosebeard Labs), Kaitao Xie(Alibaba Group), Xiaolong Bai(Alibaba Group), CVE-2025-5918, Rosyna Keller(Totally Not Malicious Software), Haoling Zhou(SecLab of The Ohio State University), Shixuan Zhao@@NSKernel(SecLab of The Ohio State University), Chao Wang@@evi0s(SecLab of The Ohio State University), Zhiqiang Lin(SecLab of The Ohio State University), Iván Savransky, Mickey Jin@@patch1t, Amy@@asentientbot, Gergely Kalman@@gergely_kalman, Kay Belardinelli (Harvard University), floeki(IES Red Team of ByteDance), Zhongcheng Li(IES Red Team of ByteDance), Yiğit Ocak, Duy Trần@@khanhduytran0, Google Threat Analysis Group, an anonymous researcher(Technische Hochschule Ingolstadt), Michael Schmutzer(Technische Hochschule Ingolstadt), Bing Shi(Alibaba Group), Wenchao Li(Alibaba Group), (Indiana University Bloomington), Luyi Xing(Indiana University Bloomington), Hossein Lotfi@@hosselot(Trend Micro Zero Day Initiative), Google Big Sleep, Nan Wang@@eternalsakura13, Phil Pizlo(Epic Games), Apple, 이동하 (Lee Dong Ha(BoB 14th), Kirin@@Pwnrin, Sumanth Rao(UC San Diego), Ye Shu(UC San Diego), Stefan Savage(UC San Diego), Aaron Schulman(UC San Diego), Geoffrey M. Voelker(UC San Diego), Enze Liu (Carnegie Mellon University), Andrei Simion, piffz, Daniel Nurkin, Al Sadman Awal, Mohamed Hamdadou & Mahran Alhazmi, Hichem Maloufi, Christian Mina, Gerson Aldaz, qwerty j0y & Ricardo Garcia, Dorian Del Valle, iG0x72(XiguaSec), JJ(XiguaSec), Lehan Dilusha Jayasinghe, Ron Elemans, Kirin@@Pwnrin(Fudan University), LFY@@secsys(Fudan University), Csaba Fitzl@@theevilbit(Iru), Kenneth Chew, Atul R V, @@retsew0x01, Morris Richman@@morrisinlife

Affected Software

9 affected componentsFixes available
Apple iOS<18.7.3
18.7.3
Apple iPadOS<18.7.3
18.7.3
Apple macOS Tahoe<26.2
26.2
Apple macOS Sonoma<14.8.3
14.8.3
Apple iOS<26.2
26.2
Apple iPadOS<26.2
26.2
Apple WatchOS<26.2
26.2
Apple visionOS<26.2
26.2
Apple macOS<14.8.3

Event History

Dec 12, 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
Affected Software
Updated
via Apple·12:00 AM
DescriptionWeaknessAffected Software
Updated
via Apple·12:00 AM
DescriptionAffected Software
CVE Published
via MITRE·08:56 PM
Data Sourced
via MITRE·08:56 PM
DescriptionWeakness
Data Sourced
via NVD·09:15 PM
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-2025-43538?

CVE-2025-43538 is classified as a high severity vulnerability due to a permissions issue that could potentially allow unauthorized access.

2

How do I fix CVE-2025-43538?

To fix CVE-2025-43538, update your affected Apple devices to their latest versions as recommended by Apple.

3

Which Apple products are affected by CVE-2025-43538?

CVE-2025-43538 affects multiple Apple products, including iOS, iPadOS, macOS Tahoe, macOS Sonoma, watchOS, and visionOS up to specified versions.

4

What kind of issue does CVE-2025-43538 address?

CVE-2025-43538 addresses a permissions issue with additional restrictions and improved bounds checks in Apple software.

5

Is there a downgrade issue involved with CVE-2025-43538?

Yes, CVE-2025-43538 includes a downgrade issue affecting Intel-based Mac computers that was addressed with additional code-signing restrictions.

Company

Resources

Contact

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