CVE-2025-43428: Apple iOS and iPadOS · Photos in the Hidden Photos Album may be viewed without authentication
Affects Apple iOS and iPadOSSource CVE Database V5
Not known to be exploited · CVSS 9.8 Critical · fixed in 26.2 : patch Apple iOS and iPadOS as a priority.
Data as of 25 Oct 2026, 19:02 UTC
- EPSS
- 0.7% chance of exploitation in 30 days – higher than 53% of CVEsExploit Prediction Scoring System: the likelihood attackers will use this flaw soon.
- Patch
- Available – fixed in 26.2
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:HExploitation evidence
Disclosed: evidence found.
CVE published 17 Dec 2025
Detectable: no evidence on record.
No public nuclei template indexed
Weaponised: no evidence on record.
No public exploit code indexed in Metasploit or Exploit-DB
Exploited in the wildExploited: no evidence on record.
Not in CISA KEV and no source reports exploitation
Observed by OffSeq MirageSeen by Mirage: no evidence on record.
No attack traffic recorded by OffSeq Mirage sensors
A missing step is not evidence of safety. Sources: cve.org (opens in a new tab), the Metasploit, Exploit-DB and nuclei-templates index as of 2026-10-25.
What to do
Affected software
| Product | Affected | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|
| Apple iOS and iPadOS | Affected
| Fixed in– |
AI-suggested
To mitigate CVE-2025-43428, organizations and users must promptly update all affected Apple devices to iOS, iPadOS, macOS Tahoe, or visionOS version 26.2 or later, where the vulnerability has been fixed. Beyond patching, organizations should enforce strict mobile device management (MDM) policies that include regular compliance checks and automated update enforcement to ensure devices remain up to date. Users should enable device-level security features such as biometric authentication and strong passcodes to add additional layers of protection. For highly sensitive environments, consider restricting the use of the Hidden Photos Album feature or employing encrypted container apps for sensitive media. Monitoring device logs for unusual access patterns to photo storage may help detect exploitation attempts. Finally, educating users about the risks of storing sensitive images on mobile devices and encouraging secure data handling practices can reduce exposure.
Description
A configuration issue was addressed with additional restrictions. This issue is fixed in iOS 26.2 and iPadOS 26.2, macOS Tahoe 26.2, visionOS 26.2. Photos in the Hidden Photos Album may be viewed without authentication.