CVE-2025-43432 is a use-after-free vulnerability identified in Apple Safari, affecting versions prior to 26.1 across multiple Apple operating systems including iOS, iPadOS, macOS Tahoe, tvOS, watchOS, and visionOS. The root cause is improper memory management that allows Safari to reference memory after it has been freed when processing specially crafted web content. This can lead to an unexpected process crash, effectively causing a denial-of-service (DoS) condition within the browser. The vulnerability does not impact confidentiality or integrity, as it does not allow code execution or data leakage, but it disrupts availability by crashing the browser process. Exploitation requires user interaction, such as visiting a malicious website or opening crafted web content, and no privileges or authentication are needed. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 4.3 (medium severity), reflecting the network attack vector, low complexity, no privileges required, but requiring user interaction and limited impact to availability only. Apple has fixed this issue by improving memory management in Safari 26.1 and corresponding OS updates released on November 4, 2025. No known exploits have been reported in the wild, but the vulnerability remains a risk until patched. The CWE classification is CWE-416 (Use After Free), a common memory corruption flaw that can lead to crashes or potentially more severe impacts if chained with other vulnerabilities.

For European organizations, this vulnerability primarily poses a risk of denial-of-service through browser crashes, potentially disrupting business operations that rely on Safari for web access. While it does not allow data theft or system compromise directly, repeated crashes could degrade user productivity and impact services that depend on stable browser sessions. Organizations in sectors such as finance, government, and critical infrastructure that use Apple devices extensively may experience operational interruptions. Additionally, targeted phishing or watering hole attacks could leverage this vulnerability to disrupt user access or as a component in multi-stage attacks. The impact is more pronounced in environments with high reliance on Safari and Apple ecosystems, including mobile and desktop platforms. Since no known exploits exist yet, the immediate risk is moderate, but unpatched systems remain vulnerable to potential future exploitation.

European organizations should implement the following specific mitigations: 1) Expedite deployment of Apple security updates including Safari 26.1 and OS versions iOS/iPadOS/macOS/tvOS/watchOS/visionOS 26.1 to all managed Apple devices. 2) Enforce strict patch management policies ensuring timely update verification and compliance reporting. 3) Educate users to avoid clicking on suspicious links or visiting untrusted websites, as exploitation requires user interaction. 4) Utilize network-level web filtering and DNS filtering to block access to known malicious domains and reduce exposure to crafted web content. 5) Monitor browser crash logs and endpoint telemetry for unusual patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts. 6) Consider deploying endpoint protection solutions capable of detecting anomalous process crashes or memory corruption behaviors. 7) For critical environments, restrict Safari usage or implement browser isolation technologies until patches are fully deployed. These targeted actions go beyond generic advice by focusing on rapid patching, user awareness, and proactive detection tailored to this specific vulnerability.