CVE-2025-43418 is a vulnerability identified in Apple iOS and iPadOS operating systems that allows an attacker with physical access to a locked device to view sensitive user information. The root cause is insufficient restriction of options available on the lock screen, which could be exploited to bypass intended access controls and expose confidential data without requiring any authentication or user interaction. This vulnerability falls under CWE-284 (Improper Access Control), indicating a failure to adequately restrict access to sensitive information. Apple resolved this issue in iOS and iPadOS versions 18.7.2 by tightening the options presented on locked devices, thereby preventing unauthorized data exposure. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 4.6 (medium severity), reflecting a high confidentiality impact but no impact on integrity or availability. The attack vector is physical access (AV:P), with low attack complexity (AC:L), no privileges required (PR:N), and no user interaction needed (UI:N). No known exploits have been reported in the wild to date. This vulnerability is particularly concerning for environments where devices may be lost, stolen, or temporarily accessed by unauthorized individuals, as it could lead to leakage of sensitive corporate or personal information stored on the device.

For European organizations, the primary impact of CVE-2025-43418 is the potential unauthorized disclosure of sensitive information stored on iOS and iPadOS devices. This could include corporate emails, contacts, confidential documents, or other personal data, leading to privacy violations, intellectual property theft, or compliance breaches under regulations like GDPR. Although the vulnerability requires physical access to the locked device, the ease of exploitation (no authentication or user interaction needed) increases the risk in scenarios such as device theft, loss, or insider threats. The integrity and availability of data remain unaffected, but the confidentiality breach could damage organizational reputation and result in financial penalties. Organizations relying heavily on Apple mobile devices for sensitive communications or data storage are particularly vulnerable. The absence of known exploits reduces immediate risk but does not eliminate the threat, especially as attackers may develop techniques to leverage this vulnerability.

1. Immediately update all iOS and iPadOS devices to version 18.7.2 or later to apply the official patch from Apple. 2. Enforce strict physical security policies to prevent unauthorized access to devices, including secure storage and controlled access in workplaces. 3. Implement device management solutions (MDM) to enforce security configurations such as automatic locking, strong passcodes, and disabling lock screen features that could expose sensitive information. 4. Educate employees about the risks of leaving devices unattended and the importance of reporting lost or stolen devices promptly. 5. Consider enabling additional security features like biometric authentication and data encryption to further protect sensitive information. 6. Regularly audit device compliance and access logs to detect any unauthorized physical access attempts. 7. For highly sensitive environments, consider restricting the use of mobile devices for storing or accessing critical data unless absolutely necessary.