CVE-2025-31273
Published: 30 July 2025
Summary
CVE-2025-31273 is a high-severity Improper Restriction of Operations within the Bounds of a Memory Buffer (CWE-119) vulnerability in Apple Safari. Its CVSS base score is 8.8 (High).
Operationally, exploitation aligns with the MITRE ATT&CK technique Drive-by Compromise (T1189); ranked at the 36.0th percentile by exploit likelihood (below the median); it is not currently listed in the CISA KEV catalog.
The strongest mitigations our analysis identified are NIST 800-53 SI-16 (Memory Protection) and SI-2 (Flaw Remediation).
Threat & Defense at a Glance
Threat & Defense Details
Mitigating Controls (NIST 800-53 r5)AI
Requires timely identification, reporting, and correction of flaws like the memory corruption in CVE-2025-31273 through vendor patches such as Safari 18.6.
Implements memory protection controls such as ASLR and DEP to directly mitigate improper memory handling and buffer operations underlying this CWE-119 vulnerability.
Ensures receipt and action on security advisories from Apple detailing patches for CVE-2025-31273 to enable rapid flaw remediation.
MITRE ATT&CK Enterprise TechniquesAI
Why these techniques?
Memory corruption in Safari triggered by crafted web content directly enables drive-by compromise (T1189) via malicious site visits and client-side exploitation for code execution (T1203).
NVD Description
The issue was addressed with improved memory handling. This issue is fixed in Safari 18.6, iOS 18.6 and iPadOS 18.6, macOS Sequoia 15.6, tvOS 18.6, visionOS 2.6, watchOS 11.6. Processing maliciously crafted web content may lead to memory corruption.
Deeper analysisAI
CVE-2025-31273 is a memory corruption vulnerability stemming from improper memory handling, classified under CWE-119 (Improper Restriction of Operations within the Bounds of a Memory Buffer). It affects Apple's Safari browser and associated operating systems, including versions of iOS and iPadOS prior to 18.6, macOS Sequoia prior to 15.6, tvOS prior to 18.6, visionOS prior to 2.6, and watchOS prior to 11.6. The vulnerability is triggered when processing maliciously crafted web content, earning a CVSS v3.1 base score of 8.8 (AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H), indicating high severity due to its potential for significant impact.
Attackers can exploit this vulnerability remotely over the network with low complexity and no required privileges, but it necessitates user interaction, such as visiting a malicious website or processing crafted web content in Safari. Successful exploitation could result in high confidentiality, integrity, and availability impacts, potentially allowing arbitrary code execution, data theft, or system compromise on the targeted Apple device.
Apple has addressed the issue through improved memory handling in the following releases: Safari 18.6, iOS 18.6 and iPadOS 18.6, macOS Sequoia 15.6, tvOS 18.6, visionOS 2.6, and watchOS 11.6. Security practitioners should advise users to update affected devices immediately, as detailed in Apple's security advisories at https://support.apple.com/en-us/124147, https://support.apple.com/en-us/124149, https://support.apple.com/en-us/124152, https://support.apple.com/en-us/124153, and https://support.apple.com/en-us/124154.
Details
- CWE(s)