CVE-2025-43429 is a buffer overflow vulnerability identified in Apple Safari and related Apple operating systems, including iOS, iPadOS, macOS, tvOS, watchOS, and visionOS. The root cause is insufficient bounds checking when processing certain crafted web content, which can cause the Safari process to crash unexpectedly. This vulnerability is classified under CWE-119, indicating a classic buffer overflow issue. The flaw does not allow for code execution or data leakage but results in denial of service by crashing the browser process. The vulnerability affects unspecified versions prior to the patched releases: tvOS 26.1, watchOS 26.1, macOS Tahoe 26.1, iOS 26.1 and iPadOS 26.1, Safari 26.1, iOS 18.7.2, iPadOS 18.7.2, and visionOS 26.1. Exploitation requires no privileges and no authentication but does require user interaction in the form of visiting a maliciously crafted web page. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 4.3 (medium), reflecting network attack vector, low complexity, no privileges required, user interaction required, and impact limited to availability (process crash). There are no known exploits in the wild at the time of publication. The vulnerability was publicly disclosed on November 4, 2025, and Apple has released patches to address the issue by improving bounds checking to prevent buffer overflow conditions.

For European organizations, this vulnerability primarily poses a risk of denial-of-service conditions affecting availability. If an attacker lures users to visit malicious web content, the Safari browser or related Apple OS processes may crash, disrupting user productivity and potentially impacting critical business operations relying on Apple devices. While the vulnerability does not compromise confidentiality or integrity, repeated crashes could lead to operational instability and increased support costs. Organizations in sectors with high reliance on Apple ecosystems—such as creative industries, finance, healthcare, and government—may experience more significant disruption. Additionally, if exploited in targeted attacks, it could be used as a vector for distraction or to degrade user trust in IT systems. The lack of known exploits reduces immediate risk, but the widespread use of Safari and Apple devices in Europe means the attack surface is substantial.

European organizations should prioritize applying the security updates released by Apple in versions tvOS 26.1, watchOS 26.1, macOS Tahoe 26.1, iOS 26.1, iPadOS 26.1, Safari 26.1, iOS 18.7.2, iPadOS 18.7.2, and visionOS 26.1. Beyond patching, organizations should implement network-level protections such as web content filtering and DNS filtering to block access to known malicious sites. User awareness training should emphasize the risks of visiting untrusted websites and clicking unknown links. Deploy endpoint monitoring to detect abnormal Safari process crashes that could indicate exploitation attempts. Where feasible, consider restricting Safari usage or sandboxing browser sessions in high-risk environments. Incident response plans should include procedures for handling denial-of-service events caused by browser crashes. Regularly review and update asset inventories to ensure all Apple devices are identified and patched promptly. Finally, collaborate with threat intelligence providers to stay informed about any emerging exploits targeting this vulnerability.