CVE-2025-43375 is a vulnerability identified in Apple Xcode, a widely used integrated development environment (IDE) for macOS and iOS application development. The issue arises when Xcode processes an excessively large path value, which can cause a process crash due to inadequate input validation, categorized under CWE-20 (Improper Input Validation). This vulnerability can be exploited remotely without requiring any privileges or user interaction, making it relatively easy to trigger. The impact is a denial of service (DoS) condition, where affected processes within Xcode crash, potentially disrupting development workflows or automated build systems. The vulnerability affects unspecified versions of Xcode prior to version 26, where Apple has implemented improved checks to prevent this issue. Although no known exploits have been reported in the wild, the CVSS v3.1 base score of 7.5 reflects a high severity level, primarily due to the vulnerability's ease of exploitation and its impact on availability. The flaw does not affect confidentiality or integrity but can cause significant operational disruption in environments relying heavily on Xcode for software development and continuous integration pipelines.

For European organizations, the primary impact of CVE-2025-43375 is operational disruption due to denial of service in development environments using Apple Xcode. This can lead to halted or delayed software development, testing, and deployment activities, affecting productivity and potentially delaying critical software releases. Organizations with automated build and continuous integration systems that incorporate Xcode may experience cascading failures or downtime. While the vulnerability does not compromise data confidentiality or integrity, the availability impact can be significant, especially for technology companies, software vendors, and enterprises with macOS/iOS development teams. Additionally, if exploited in targeted attacks, it could be used as a vector to disrupt competitor or critical infrastructure software development. The lack of required privileges or user interaction lowers the barrier for attackers, increasing the risk of opportunistic exploitation.

To mitigate CVE-2025-43375, European organizations should prioritize upgrading all Xcode installations to version 26 or later, where the vulnerability has been addressed with improved input validation. Development teams should audit their build and development environments to identify and remediate any instances of outdated Xcode versions. Implementing monitoring and alerting for abnormal process crashes related to Xcode can help detect exploitation attempts early. Organizations should also enforce strict input validation and sanitization for any automated scripts or tools that interact with file paths or external inputs in the development pipeline. Where possible, isolating build environments and restricting network access can limit the attack surface. Regular security training for developers on safe coding and environment hardening practices will further reduce risk. Finally, maintaining an incident response plan that includes scenarios involving development environment disruptions will improve organizational resilience.