CVE-2025-43227 is a vulnerability in Apple Safari and related Apple operating systems caused by improper state management when processing web content. This flaw allows an attacker to craft malicious web content that, when processed by the vulnerable Safari browser, can lead to unauthorized disclosure of sensitive user information. The vulnerability does not require any user interaction or authentication, making it exploitable remotely over the network. The issue affects multiple Apple platforms, including Safari 18.6, iOS 18.6, iPadOS 18.6, macOS Sequoia 15.6, tvOS 18.6, watchOS 11.6, and visionOS 2.6. Apple addressed the vulnerability by improving state management in these versions. The CVSS 3.1 base score is 7.5, reflecting a high severity with a vector of AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N, indicating network attack vector, low attack complexity, no privileges or user interaction required, unchanged scope, and high confidentiality impact with no integrity or availability impact. The vulnerability is categorized under CWE-359 (Exposure of Private Information Through Environmental Variables), highlighting that sensitive information leakage occurs due to improper handling of internal state during web content processing. No public exploits are currently known, but the potential for sensitive data exposure makes this a critical issue for users of affected Apple products.

The primary impact of CVE-2025-43227 is the unauthorized disclosure of sensitive user information, which can include personal data, authentication tokens, or other confidential details accessible through Safari's web content processing. For European organizations, this could lead to significant privacy violations, regulatory non-compliance (e.g., GDPR breaches), and reputational damage. The vulnerability affects a broad range of Apple devices commonly used in corporate and personal environments, increasing the attack surface. Since no user interaction or authentication is required, attackers can exploit this remotely, potentially targeting employees or executives to gain intelligence or facilitate further attacks. The confidentiality breach could enable espionage, identity theft, or unauthorized access to corporate resources. However, the vulnerability does not affect data integrity or system availability, limiting its impact to information disclosure. The lack of known exploits in the wild reduces immediate risk but does not eliminate the threat, especially as attackers may develop exploits following public disclosure. Organizations relying heavily on Apple ecosystems for critical operations or handling sensitive data are particularly vulnerable.

1. Immediately update all affected Apple devices and Safari browsers to the fixed versions: Safari 18.6, iOS 18.6, iPadOS 18.6, macOS Sequoia 15.6, tvOS 18.6, watchOS 11.6, and visionOS 2.6. 2. Implement strict web content filtering and monitoring solutions to detect and block malicious web content that could exploit this vulnerability. 3. Enforce network segmentation and restrict access to sensitive systems from devices running vulnerable versions until patched. 4. Educate users about the risks of visiting untrusted websites and encourage cautious browsing behavior, even though no user interaction is required for exploitation. 5. Employ endpoint detection and response (EDR) tools capable of identifying anomalous browser behavior indicative of exploitation attempts. 6. Regularly audit and monitor logs for unusual data exfiltration patterns that may signal exploitation. 7. Coordinate with Apple support and subscribe to security advisories to stay informed about any emerging exploit techniques or additional patches. 8. For organizations with strict compliance requirements, conduct a risk assessment and document mitigation steps to demonstrate due diligence.