CVE-2025-43211: Processing web content may lead to a denial-of-service in Apple Safari
The issue was addressed with improved memory handling. This issue is fixed in Safari 18.6, iOS 18.6 and iPadOS 18.6, iPadOS 17.7.9, macOS Sequoia 15.6, tvOS 18.6, visionOS 2.6, watchOS 11.6. Processing web content may lead to a denial-of-service.
AI Analysis
Technical Summary
CVE-2025-43211 is a vulnerability in Apple Safari that leads to a denial-of-service condition due to improper memory handling when processing web content. The root cause is linked to CWE-770, which involves the allocation of resources without proper limits or throttling, allowing an attacker to exhaust memory or other system resources. This flaw can be triggered remotely by simply loading crafted web content in Safari, requiring no user interaction or privileges, making it relatively easy to exploit. Affected products include Safari versions prior to 18.6 and corresponding Apple operating systems such as iOS 18.6, iPadOS 18.6, macOS Sequoia 15.6, tvOS 18.6, visionOS 2.6, and watchOS 11.6. The vulnerability was addressed by Apple through improved memory handling and resource management in these updates. Although no active exploits have been reported, the potential for denial-of-service attacks could disrupt user access to web services or degrade device performance. The vulnerability’s CVSS score is 6.2 (medium severity), reflecting its impact on availability without affecting confidentiality or integrity. The issue affects a broad range of Apple devices, including desktops, laptops, mobile devices, and smart devices, highlighting the importance of patching across all platforms. The vulnerability does not require authentication or user interaction, increasing its risk profile. Organizations using Apple devices should monitor for updates and apply patches promptly to mitigate potential service interruptions.
Potential Impact
The primary impact of CVE-2025-43211 is denial-of-service, which can cause Safari or the underlying operating system to become unresponsive or crash when processing maliciously crafted web content. This can disrupt user productivity, cause loss of unsaved data, and potentially impact critical business operations relying on web access through Safari. Since the vulnerability affects multiple Apple platforms, the scope includes desktops, laptops, mobile devices, and IoT devices running Apple OS variants, increasing the potential attack surface. The ease of exploitation without authentication or user interaction means attackers could automate attacks, potentially targeting high-value users or systems. While confidentiality and integrity are not directly impacted, availability degradation can have cascading effects, especially in environments where Apple devices are integral to workflows or customer-facing services. The lack of known exploits in the wild reduces immediate risk but does not eliminate the threat, as attackers may develop exploits once the vulnerability details are widely known. Organizations with large Apple device deployments, especially in sectors like finance, healthcare, and government, could face operational disruptions if unpatched devices are targeted.
Mitigation Recommendations
1. Immediately apply the latest Apple security updates that include Safari 18.6, iOS 18.6, iPadOS 18.6, macOS Sequoia 15.6, tvOS 18.6, visionOS 2.6, and watchOS 11.6 to ensure the vulnerability is patched. 2. Enforce strict update policies for all Apple devices within the organization to minimize the window of exposure. 3. Implement network-level web content filtering to block or monitor access to suspicious or untrusted websites that could host malicious content designed to exploit this vulnerability. 4. Use endpoint protection solutions capable of detecting abnormal resource consumption patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts. 5. Educate users about the risks of visiting untrusted websites, even though no user interaction is required, to reduce exposure to potentially malicious content. 6. For critical environments, consider restricting Safari usage or deploying alternative browsers until all devices are patched. 7. Monitor logs and system behavior for signs of denial-of-service conditions or crashes related to Safari to enable rapid incident response. 8. Coordinate with Apple support channels for any additional guidance or updates related to this vulnerability.
Affected Countries
United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Germany, France, Australia, Japan, South Korea, China, India, Brazil, Italy, Spain, Netherlands, Sweden
CVE-2025-43211: Processing web content may lead to a denial-of-service in Apple Safari
Description
The issue was addressed with improved memory handling. This issue is fixed in Safari 18.6, iOS 18.6 and iPadOS 18.6, iPadOS 17.7.9, macOS Sequoia 15.6, tvOS 18.6, visionOS 2.6, watchOS 11.6. Processing web content may lead to a denial-of-service.
AI-Powered Analysis
Machine-generated threat intelligence
Technical Analysis
CVE-2025-43211 is a vulnerability in Apple Safari that leads to a denial-of-service condition due to improper memory handling when processing web content. The root cause is linked to CWE-770, which involves the allocation of resources without proper limits or throttling, allowing an attacker to exhaust memory or other system resources. This flaw can be triggered remotely by simply loading crafted web content in Safari, requiring no user interaction or privileges, making it relatively easy to exploit. Affected products include Safari versions prior to 18.6 and corresponding Apple operating systems such as iOS 18.6, iPadOS 18.6, macOS Sequoia 15.6, tvOS 18.6, visionOS 2.6, and watchOS 11.6. The vulnerability was addressed by Apple through improved memory handling and resource management in these updates. Although no active exploits have been reported, the potential for denial-of-service attacks could disrupt user access to web services or degrade device performance. The vulnerability’s CVSS score is 6.2 (medium severity), reflecting its impact on availability without affecting confidentiality or integrity. The issue affects a broad range of Apple devices, including desktops, laptops, mobile devices, and smart devices, highlighting the importance of patching across all platforms. The vulnerability does not require authentication or user interaction, increasing its risk profile. Organizations using Apple devices should monitor for updates and apply patches promptly to mitigate potential service interruptions.
Potential Impact
The primary impact of CVE-2025-43211 is denial-of-service, which can cause Safari or the underlying operating system to become unresponsive or crash when processing maliciously crafted web content. This can disrupt user productivity, cause loss of unsaved data, and potentially impact critical business operations relying on web access through Safari. Since the vulnerability affects multiple Apple platforms, the scope includes desktops, laptops, mobile devices, and IoT devices running Apple OS variants, increasing the potential attack surface. The ease of exploitation without authentication or user interaction means attackers could automate attacks, potentially targeting high-value users or systems. While confidentiality and integrity are not directly impacted, availability degradation can have cascading effects, especially in environments where Apple devices are integral to workflows or customer-facing services. The lack of known exploits in the wild reduces immediate risk but does not eliminate the threat, as attackers may develop exploits once the vulnerability details are widely known. Organizations with large Apple device deployments, especially in sectors like finance, healthcare, and government, could face operational disruptions if unpatched devices are targeted.
Mitigation Recommendations
1. Immediately apply the latest Apple security updates that include Safari 18.6, iOS 18.6, iPadOS 18.6, macOS Sequoia 15.6, tvOS 18.6, visionOS 2.6, and watchOS 11.6 to ensure the vulnerability is patched. 2. Enforce strict update policies for all Apple devices within the organization to minimize the window of exposure. 3. Implement network-level web content filtering to block or monitor access to suspicious or untrusted websites that could host malicious content designed to exploit this vulnerability. 4. Use endpoint protection solutions capable of detecting abnormal resource consumption patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts. 5. Educate users about the risks of visiting untrusted websites, even though no user interaction is required, to reduce exposure to potentially malicious content. 6. For critical environments, consider restricting Safari usage or deploying alternative browsers until all devices are patched. 7. Monitor logs and system behavior for signs of denial-of-service conditions or crashes related to Safari to enable rapid incident response. 8. Coordinate with Apple support channels for any additional guidance or updates related to this vulnerability.
Technical Details
- Data Version
- 5.1
- Assigner Short Name
- apple
- Date Reserved
- 2025-04-16T15:24:37.088Z
- Cvss Version
- null
- State
- PUBLISHED
Threat ID: 68895da6ad5a09ad0091b8ad
Added to database: 7/29/2025, 11:47:50 PM
Last enriched: 4/3/2026, 1:39:48 AM
Last updated: 5/9/2026, 5:32:22 AM
Views: 81
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