CVE-2025-43300
Published: 21 August 2025
Summary
CVE-2025-43300 is a critical-severity Out-of-bounds Write (CWE-787) vulnerability in Apple Ipados. Its CVSS base score is 10.0 (Critical).
Operationally, exploitation aligns with the MITRE ATT&CK technique Exploitation for Client Execution (T1203); ranked in the top 10.9% of CVEs by exploit likelihood; CISA has added it to the Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog; a public proof-of-concept is referenced.
The strongest mitigations our analysis identified are NIST 800-53 SI-10 (Information Input Validation) and SI-16 (Memory Protection).
Threat & Defense at a Glance
Threat & Defense Details
Mitigating Controls (NIST 800-53 r5)AI
SI-2 requires timely flaw remediation, directly mitigating CVE-2025-43300 by applying Apple's patches that fix the out-of-bounds write in image processing.
SI-10 enforces information input validation, addressing the root cause of CVE-2025-43300 through improved bounds checking on malicious image files to prevent memory corruption.
SI-16 provides memory protection mechanisms that mitigate exploitation of the out-of-bounds write in CVE-2025-43300 by preventing arbitrary code execution from memory corruption.
MITRE ATT&CK Enterprise TechniquesAI
Why these techniques?
Out-of-bounds write in image processing enables remote client-side RCE with no user interaction.
NVD Description
An out-of-bounds write issue was addressed with improved bounds checking. This issue is fixed in iOS 15.8.5 and iPadOS 15.8.5, iOS 16.7.12 and iPadOS 16.7.12, iOS 18.6.2 and iPadOS 18.6.2, iPadOS 17.7.10, macOS Sequoia 15.6.1, macOS Sonoma 14.7.8, macOS Ventura…
more
13.7.8. Processing a malicious image file may result in memory corruption. Apple is aware of a report that this issue may have been exploited in an extremely sophisticated attack against specific targeted individuals.
Deeper analysisAI
CVE-2025-43300 is an out-of-bounds write vulnerability (CWE-787) in Apple operating systems, addressed through improved bounds checking. It affects iOS and iPadOS versions prior to 15.8.5, 16.7.12, 18.6.2, and 17.7.10, as well as macOS Sequoia prior to 15.6.1, macOS Sonoma prior to 14.7.8, and macOS Ventura prior to 13.7.8. The flaw occurs when processing a malicious image file, potentially leading to memory corruption.
Remote attackers can exploit this vulnerability over the network with low complexity, requiring no privileges or user interaction (CVSSv3.1 score of 10.0: AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H). Successful exploitation enables high-impact confidentiality, integrity, and availability violations, such as arbitrary code execution through memory corruption.
Apple security advisories detail patches in the specified versions, recommending immediate updates to mitigate the issue. Relevant support pages include https://support.apple.com/en-us/124925, https://support.apple.com/en-us/124926, https://support.apple.com/en-us/124927, https://support.apple.com/en-us/124928, and https://support.apple.com/en-us/124929.
Apple has acknowledged a report indicating possible exploitation in an extremely sophisticated attack targeting specific individuals.
Details
- CWE(s)
- KEV Date Added
- 21 August 2025