CVE-2025-43223 is a high-severity vulnerability affecting Apple iPadOS and other Apple operating systems including macOS Ventura, macOS Sonoma, watchOS, tvOS, and visionOS. The vulnerability allows a non-privileged user to modify restricted network settings, which should normally be protected and only modifiable by privileged users or administrators. The root cause is related to insufficient input validation, which could be exploited remotely without authentication or user interaction, as indicated by the CVSS vector (AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N). This means an attacker can exploit this vulnerability over the network with low complexity and no privileges or user interaction required. The primary impact is a denial-of-service (DoS) condition, potentially disrupting network connectivity or device functionality by altering critical network configurations. The vulnerability is addressed in multiple Apple OS versions, including iPadOS 17.7.9 and 18.6, macOS Ventura 13.7.7 and Sonoma 14.7.7, watchOS 11.6, tvOS 18.6, and visionOS 2.6. The CWE-20 classification indicates the issue stems from improper input validation, which allowed unauthorized modification of network settings. Although no known exploits are currently reported in the wild, the ease of exploitation and the broad range of affected Apple devices make this a significant threat. The vulnerability affects a wide range of Apple devices used in both consumer and enterprise environments, particularly impacting iPadOS devices which are widely used in business, education, and government sectors. The ability for an attacker to remotely cause denial-of-service by modifying network settings could disrupt critical communications and operations, especially in environments relying on iPadOS for mobile productivity and connectivity.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a substantial risk to operational continuity and network security. Many enterprises and public sector organizations in Europe utilize Apple iPads and other Apple devices for mobile workforce productivity, remote access, and secure communications. An attacker exploiting this vulnerability could disrupt network connectivity by altering restricted network settings, leading to denial-of-service conditions that impact device availability and network reliability. This could affect critical business processes, especially in sectors such as finance, healthcare, education, and government services where iPadOS devices are integrated into daily operations. Additionally, disruption of network settings could potentially facilitate further attacks or lateral movement within corporate networks if combined with other vulnerabilities or misconfigurations. The lack of required privileges or user interaction for exploitation increases the threat level, as attackers could remotely target vulnerable devices without needing to compromise user credentials or trick users into action. This vulnerability also raises concerns for compliance with European data protection regulations (e.g., GDPR) if service disruptions impact data availability or integrity. Overall, the vulnerability could lead to operational downtime, increased incident response costs, and reputational damage for affected organizations.

European organizations should prioritize patching affected Apple devices with the updates released by Apple, including iPadOS 17.7.9 and 18.6, macOS Ventura 13.7.7 and Sonoma 14.7.7, watchOS 11.6, tvOS 18.6, and visionOS 2.6. Beyond patching, organizations should implement network segmentation and access controls to limit exposure of Apple devices to untrusted networks, reducing the attack surface. Employing Mobile Device Management (MDM) solutions can help enforce security policies, monitor device compliance, and facilitate rapid deployment of patches. Network monitoring should be enhanced to detect anomalous changes in device network configurations or unusual network traffic patterns indicative of exploitation attempts. Organizations should also review and harden network configuration policies on Apple devices to restrict unnecessary network setting changes and enable logging of configuration changes for audit purposes. User awareness training should emphasize the importance of timely updates and recognizing potential device malfunctions that could indicate exploitation. Finally, organizations should maintain an incident response plan that includes procedures for isolating affected devices and restoring network settings to minimize downtime in case of exploitation.