CVE-2025-43510: Apple Multiple Products Improper Locking Vulnerability
Apple · Multiple Products · NVD published 2025-12-13 · posted 2026-03-20 · last modified 2026-10-07
What it is
A memory corruption issue was addressed with improved lock state checking. This issue is fixed in iOS 18.7.2 and iPadOS 18.7.2, iOS 26.1 and iPadOS 26.1, macOS Sequoia 15.7.2, macOS Sonoma 14.8.2, macOS Tahoe 26.1, tvOS 26.1, visionOS 26.1, watchOS 26.1. A malicious application may cause unexpected changes in memory shared between processes.
| Weakness | CWE-667 |
|---|---|
| CVSS vector | CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H (source: [email protected]) |
| CISA due date | 2026-04-03 (for US federal agencies under BOD; a good deadline for everyone) |
| ATT&CK tactics | n/a |
Exploitation evidence
First exploit evidence seen: 2026-03-20 (earliest date across the sources below).
Exploited in the wild
- CISA KEV: listed since 2026-03-20. Source
Sources: CISA KEV.
No ATT&CK techniques could be mapped or inferred for this CVE yet.
How to fix it
CISA required action
Apply mitigations per vendor instructions, follow applicable BOD 22-01 guidance for cloud services, or discontinue use of the product if mitigations are unavailable. (source: CISA KEV)
Fixed versions
- apple ipados: upgrade to 18.7.2 or later
- apple iphone os: upgrade to 18.7.2 or later
- apple macos: upgrade to 14.8.2 or later (affected from 14.0)
- apple macos: upgrade to 15.7.2 or later (affected from 15.0)
- apple tvos: upgrade to 26.1 or later
- apple visionos: upgrade to 26.1 or later
- apple watchos: upgrade to 26.1 or later
Derived from the NVD CPE configuration (versionEndExcluding / versionEndIncluding). Always confirm with the vendor advisory.
Vendor advisories and patches
- https://support.apple.com/en-us/125632 (CISA KEV notes)
- https://support.apple.com/en-us/125633 (CISA KEV notes)
- https://support.apple.com/en-us/125634 (CISA KEV notes)
- https://support.apple.com/en-us/125635 (CISA KEV notes)
- https://support.apple.com/en-us/125636 (CISA KEV notes)
- https://support.apple.com/en-us/125637 (CISA KEV notes)
- https://support.apple.com/en-us/125638 (CISA KEV notes)
- https://support.apple.com/en-us/125639 (CISA KEV notes)
Detection Generic guidance
Response checklist Generic guidance
- Inventory: find every instance of the affected product and version (include internet-facing and forgotten ones).
- Patch or mitigate per the vendor advisory; if you cannot patch, remove internet exposure or apply the vendor workaround.
- Assume compromise if the system was exposed before patching: hunt for the indicators in the advisory and review logs back to the disclosure date.
- Rotate credentials and secrets stored on or used by the affected system if compromise cannot be ruled out.
Sources
- NVD: CVE-2025-43510
- CVE.org record
- CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog
- FIRST EPSS (2026-10-24)
- https://cloud.google.com/blog/topics/threat-intelligence/darksword-ios-exploit-chain/ (Technical Description)
- https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2025-43510 (US Government Resource)