CVE-2025-43373: An app may be able to cause unexpected system termination or corrupt kernel memory in Apple macOS
The issue was addressed with improved memory handling. This issue is fixed in macOS Sequoia 15.7.2, macOS Sonoma 14.8.2, macOS Tahoe 26.1. An app may be able to cause unexpected system termination or corrupt kernel memory.
AI Analysis
Technical Summary
CVE-2025-43373 is a memory corruption vulnerability in Apple macOS that allows an application to cause unexpected system termination or corrupt kernel memory. The root cause lies in improper memory handling, specifically related to buffer overflows and out-of-bounds writes, as indicated by the associated CWEs (CWE-119 and CWE-787). This vulnerability can be exploited remotely without requiring any privileges or user interaction, making it particularly dangerous. The affected macOS versions include those prior to Sequoia 15.7.2, Sonoma 14.8.2, and Tahoe 26.1, where Apple has implemented improved memory handling to mitigate the issue. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 7.5, reflecting a high severity due to the potential impact on confidentiality (high), although integrity and availability impacts are not explicitly indicated. The vulnerability could lead to system crashes or kernel memory corruption, which may be leveraged by attackers to cause denial-of-service conditions or potentially escalate privileges if combined with other exploits. No public exploits or widespread attacks have been reported yet, but the vulnerability's characteristics warrant prompt attention. The vulnerability affects core macOS components, making it relevant to all users and organizations relying on Apple desktop and server environments.
Potential Impact
The primary impact of CVE-2025-43373 is the potential for denial-of-service through unexpected system termination or kernel memory corruption, which can destabilize affected macOS systems. This can disrupt business operations, cause data loss, and reduce system availability. Although the CVSS vector indicates a high impact on confidentiality, the description does not explicitly confirm data leakage, but kernel memory corruption could potentially be leveraged in complex attack chains to escalate privileges or bypass security controls. The ease of exploitation—requiring no privileges or user interaction—and the ability to trigger the vulnerability remotely increase the threat level. Organizations using macOS in critical environments, such as software development, creative industries, or enterprise IT infrastructure, may face operational disruptions and increased risk of targeted attacks. The lack of known exploits in the wild currently reduces immediate risk but does not eliminate the potential for future exploitation, especially as attackers analyze the vulnerability post-disclosure.
Mitigation Recommendations
1. Immediately apply the security updates provided by Apple: macOS Sequoia 15.7.2, Sonoma 14.8.2, and Tahoe 26.1 or later versions that include the fix for this vulnerability. 2. Implement network-level protections such as firewalls and intrusion detection/prevention systems to monitor and restrict untrusted applications and network traffic that could exploit this vulnerability. 3. Employ application whitelisting and endpoint protection solutions to prevent execution of unauthorized or suspicious applications. 4. Regularly audit and monitor system logs for unusual crashes or kernel errors that may indicate exploitation attempts. 5. Limit exposure by restricting remote access to macOS systems, especially those running vulnerable versions, using VPNs and strong authentication mechanisms. 6. Educate users and administrators about the importance of timely patching and recognizing signs of system instability. 7. For environments where immediate patching is not feasible, consider isolating vulnerable systems from critical networks to reduce attack surface.
Affected Countries
United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Germany, France, Australia, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Sweden, Netherlands
CVE-2025-43373: An app may be able to cause unexpected system termination or corrupt kernel memory in Apple macOS
Description
The issue was addressed with improved memory handling. This issue is fixed in macOS Sequoia 15.7.2, macOS Sonoma 14.8.2, macOS Tahoe 26.1. An app may be able to cause unexpected system termination or corrupt kernel memory.
AI-Powered Analysis
Machine-generated threat intelligence
Technical Analysis
CVE-2025-43373 is a memory corruption vulnerability in Apple macOS that allows an application to cause unexpected system termination or corrupt kernel memory. The root cause lies in improper memory handling, specifically related to buffer overflows and out-of-bounds writes, as indicated by the associated CWEs (CWE-119 and CWE-787). This vulnerability can be exploited remotely without requiring any privileges or user interaction, making it particularly dangerous. The affected macOS versions include those prior to Sequoia 15.7.2, Sonoma 14.8.2, and Tahoe 26.1, where Apple has implemented improved memory handling to mitigate the issue. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 7.5, reflecting a high severity due to the potential impact on confidentiality (high), although integrity and availability impacts are not explicitly indicated. The vulnerability could lead to system crashes or kernel memory corruption, which may be leveraged by attackers to cause denial-of-service conditions or potentially escalate privileges if combined with other exploits. No public exploits or widespread attacks have been reported yet, but the vulnerability's characteristics warrant prompt attention. The vulnerability affects core macOS components, making it relevant to all users and organizations relying on Apple desktop and server environments.
Potential Impact
The primary impact of CVE-2025-43373 is the potential for denial-of-service through unexpected system termination or kernel memory corruption, which can destabilize affected macOS systems. This can disrupt business operations, cause data loss, and reduce system availability. Although the CVSS vector indicates a high impact on confidentiality, the description does not explicitly confirm data leakage, but kernel memory corruption could potentially be leveraged in complex attack chains to escalate privileges or bypass security controls. The ease of exploitation—requiring no privileges or user interaction—and the ability to trigger the vulnerability remotely increase the threat level. Organizations using macOS in critical environments, such as software development, creative industries, or enterprise IT infrastructure, may face operational disruptions and increased risk of targeted attacks. The lack of known exploits in the wild currently reduces immediate risk but does not eliminate the potential for future exploitation, especially as attackers analyze the vulnerability post-disclosure.
Mitigation Recommendations
1. Immediately apply the security updates provided by Apple: macOS Sequoia 15.7.2, Sonoma 14.8.2, and Tahoe 26.1 or later versions that include the fix for this vulnerability. 2. Implement network-level protections such as firewalls and intrusion detection/prevention systems to monitor and restrict untrusted applications and network traffic that could exploit this vulnerability. 3. Employ application whitelisting and endpoint protection solutions to prevent execution of unauthorized or suspicious applications. 4. Regularly audit and monitor system logs for unusual crashes or kernel errors that may indicate exploitation attempts. 5. Limit exposure by restricting remote access to macOS systems, especially those running vulnerable versions, using VPNs and strong authentication mechanisms. 6. Educate users and administrators about the importance of timely patching and recognizing signs of system instability. 7. For environments where immediate patching is not feasible, consider isolating vulnerable systems from critical networks to reduce attack surface.
Technical Details
- Data Version
- 5.2
- Assigner Short Name
- apple
- Date Reserved
- 2025-04-16T15:24:37.115Z
- Cvss Version
- null
- State
- PUBLISHED
Threat ID: 69095ba678d4f574c2a8f232
Added to database: 11/4/2025, 1:49:26 AM
Last enriched: 4/3/2026, 2:08:35 AM
Last updated: 5/10/2026, 1:47:09 AM
Views: 64
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