CVE-2025-43221 is an out-of-bounds (OOB) memory access vulnerability classified under CWE-125, discovered in Apple macOS and other Apple operating systems including iOS, iPadOS, visionOS, and tvOS. The vulnerability arises from insufficient bounds checking when processing specially crafted media files, which can cause the application handling the file to either terminate unexpectedly or corrupt its process memory. This memory corruption could potentially be leveraged to cause denial of service or, in some cases, facilitate further exploitation depending on the context, although no direct code execution has been confirmed. The vulnerability requires local access and user interaction, as the user must open or process the malicious media file for the flaw to be triggered. Apple addressed this issue by improving bounds checking in macOS Sequoia 15.6 and corresponding updates for other OSes (iOS 18.6, iPadOS 18.6, visionOS 2.6, tvOS 18.6). The CVSS v3.1 score is 7.1 (High), reflecting the vulnerability’s potential to impact confidentiality (high), availability (high), but not integrity, with low attack complexity and no privileges required. No known exploits have been reported in the wild as of the publication date. The vulnerability affects all prior versions to the patched releases, although exact affected versions are unspecified. This flaw is significant for environments where media files are frequently processed, such as media production, content delivery, and enterprise environments using Apple hardware.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a risk primarily to the availability and confidentiality of systems running vulnerable Apple operating systems. Unexpected app termination or memory corruption can disrupt business operations, especially in sectors relying heavily on Apple devices for media processing, such as creative industries, digital marketing, and software development. While no direct code execution is confirmed, the memory corruption could potentially be a stepping stone for more sophisticated attacks if combined with other vulnerabilities. The requirement for user interaction limits remote exploitation but does not eliminate risk, as phishing or social engineering could be used to trick users into opening malicious media files. Disruption of critical applications could lead to downtime and data exposure, impacting compliance with European data protection regulations like GDPR. Organizations with mixed-device environments that include Apple hardware must ensure these devices are promptly updated to prevent lateral movement or targeted attacks exploiting this vulnerability.

1. Immediately apply the security updates released by Apple: macOS Sequoia 15.6, iOS 18.6, iPadOS 18.6, visionOS 2.6, and tvOS 18.6. 2. Implement strict controls on media file sources, especially those received via email or downloaded from untrusted websites, to reduce the risk of malicious file processing. 3. Employ endpoint protection solutions capable of detecting anomalous application crashes or memory corruption events on Apple devices. 4. Educate users about the risks of opening media files from unknown or suspicious sources to reduce the likelihood of successful social engineering. 5. Use application whitelisting or sandboxing techniques where possible to limit the impact of compromised applications. 6. Monitor logs and system behavior for signs of exploitation attempts or unusual application terminations. 7. For organizations with managed Apple device fleets, use Mobile Device Management (MDM) tools to enforce timely patch deployment and restrict risky file handling behaviors.