CVE-2025-43227 is a high-severity vulnerability affecting Apple Safari browser and related Apple operating systems including iOS, iPadOS, macOS Sequoia, tvOS, watchOS, and visionOS. The vulnerability arises from improper state management when processing maliciously crafted web content. An attacker can exploit this flaw by delivering specially designed web content that, when processed by Safari, leads to the disclosure of sensitive user information without requiring any user interaction or authentication. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-359, which relates to improper handling of state or race conditions that can lead to information leaks. The CVSS 3.1 base score of 7.5 reflects a network attack vector with low attack complexity, no privileges required, no user interaction needed, and a high impact on confidentiality, while integrity and availability remain unaffected. Apple addressed this issue in Safari 18.6 and corresponding OS updates (iOS 18.6, iPadOS 18.6, macOS Sequoia 15.6, tvOS 18.6, watchOS 11.6, visionOS 2.6) by improving state management to prevent sensitive data leakage. No known exploits are currently reported in the wild, but the vulnerability’s nature and ease of exploitation make it a significant risk, especially given Safari’s widespread use on Apple devices.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2025-43227 can be substantial, particularly for those relying heavily on Apple ecosystems for business operations, communications, and data access. The vulnerability allows remote attackers to extract sensitive user information, potentially including browsing history, cookies, authentication tokens, or other confidential data accessible through Safari’s processing context. This can lead to privacy violations, unauthorized data disclosure, and could facilitate further targeted attacks such as phishing or session hijacking. Organizations in sectors with strict data protection regulations, such as finance, healthcare, and government, may face compliance risks and reputational damage if sensitive data is leaked. Additionally, employees using vulnerable Apple devices to access corporate resources remotely could inadvertently expose sensitive corporate information. The lack of required user interaction or privileges increases the threat level, as exploitation can occur silently and remotely, making detection and prevention more challenging.

European organizations should prioritize updating all Apple devices to the patched versions of Safari and corresponding operating systems (Safari 18.6, iOS/iPadOS 18.6, macOS Sequoia 15.6, etc.) as soon as possible. Beyond patching, organizations should implement network-level protections such as web content filtering and intrusion detection systems tuned to detect anomalous or malicious web content patterns targeting Safari. Employing endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions capable of monitoring browser behavior for unusual data access or exfiltration attempts can provide additional defense. Organizations should also enforce strict usage policies for Apple devices, including restricting access to untrusted websites and educating users about the risks of visiting suspicious web content. Where feasible, deploying browser isolation technologies or sandboxing Safari sessions can limit the impact of potential exploitation. Regular audits of sensitive data access logs and monitoring for unusual outbound traffic can help detect exploitation attempts early. Finally, integrating vulnerability management processes to track and remediate Apple software vulnerabilities promptly is critical.