CVE-2025-43202
Published: 02 April 2026
Summary
CVE-2025-43202 is a high-severity Out-of-bounds Write (CWE-787) vulnerability in Apple Ipados. Its CVSS base score is 8.8 (High).
Operationally, exploitation aligns with the MITRE ATT&CK technique Exploitation for Client Execution (T1203); ranked at the 32.6th 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).
Deeper analysis
CVE-2025-43202 is a memory corruption vulnerability (CWE-787: Out-of-bounds Write) affecting Apple's iOS, iPadOS, and macOS operating systems. The issue arises when processing a maliciously crafted file, which can trigger memory corruption due to inadequate memory handling. Apple addressed this flaw with improved memory management, fixing it in iOS 18.6, iPadOS 18.6, and macOS Sequoia 15.6. The vulnerability carries 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.
Attackers can exploit this vulnerability remotely over the network without privileges by tricking a user into opening or processing a specially crafted file, such as via email attachments, messaging apps, or web downloads. Successful exploitation could result in high-impact confidentiality, integrity, and availability violations, potentially allowing arbitrary code execution, data theft, or system compromise on the targeted device.
Apple's security advisories (https://support.apple.com/en-us/124147 and https://support.apple.com/en-us/124149) confirm the vulnerability details and recommend immediate updates to iOS 18.6, iPadOS 18.6, or macOS Sequoia 15.6 to mitigate the issue. No additional workarounds are specified beyond applying the patches.
EU & UK References
- 🇪🇺 ENISA EUVD: EUVD-2025-209192
Vulnerability details
This issue was addressed with improved memory handling. This issue is fixed in iOS 18.6 and iPadOS 18.6, macOS Sequoia 15.6. Processing a file may lead to memory corruption.
- CWE(s)
Related Threats
MITRE ATT&CK Enterprise TechniquesAI
Why these techniques?
Memory corruption in crafted file processing enables client-side exploitation for code execution (T1203) requiring user to open malicious file (T1204.002).
CVEs Like This One
Affected Assets
Mitigating Controls
Mitigating Controls (NIST 800-53 r5) AI
Implements safeguards to protect system memory from unauthorized code execution, directly mitigating out-of-bounds write vulnerabilities like CVE-2025-43202.
Requires timely flaw remediation through patching, addressing the memory corruption fixed in iOS 18.6, iPadOS 18.6, and macOS Sequoia 15.6.
Validates information inputs such as maliciously crafted files to prevent triggering inadequate memory handling during processing.