CVE-2025-43432 is a use-after-free vulnerability identified in Apple Safari and related Apple operating systems, including visionOS, watchOS, iOS, iPadOS, and tvOS. The vulnerability arises from improper memory management when processing web content, which can lead to an unexpected process crash. Use-after-free bugs occur when a program continues to use memory after it has been freed, potentially causing instability or crashes. In this case, maliciously crafted web content can trigger this condition, resulting in the Safari browser process crashing unexpectedly. While the vulnerability does not currently have a CVSS score and no known exploits have been reported in the wild, the impact primarily affects availability by causing denial of service through browser crashes. The issue was reserved in April 2025 and publicly disclosed in November 2025, with fixes released in Safari 26.1 and corresponding updates for Apple’s operating systems. The vulnerability affects all versions prior to these updates, though exact affected versions are unspecified. Exploitation requires a user to visit or process malicious web content, which means user interaction is necessary. There is no indication that this vulnerability allows for privilege escalation, remote code execution, or data exfiltration. However, crashing the browser can disrupt user activity, potentially impacting business operations, especially in environments relying heavily on Safari for web access. The fix involves improved memory management to prevent the use-after-free condition. Organizations should apply the updates promptly to mitigate risk. Monitoring for suspicious web content and restricting access to untrusted websites can reduce exposure. Given the widespread use of Apple devices in consumer and enterprise environments, this vulnerability has a broad attack surface but limited impact scope.

For European organizations, the primary impact of CVE-2025-43432 is on availability, as exploitation leads to unexpected crashes of the Safari browser process. This can disrupt business operations, especially for organizations that rely on Safari for critical web applications or internal portals. While the vulnerability does not enable data theft or remote code execution, repeated crashes could degrade user productivity and potentially cause denial of service in environments where Safari is the default or mandated browser. Sectors such as finance, healthcare, and government, which often use Apple devices and require high availability, may experience operational interruptions. Additionally, organizations with Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) policies that include Apple devices could face increased risk of user disruption. The lack of known exploits reduces immediate threat but does not eliminate the risk of future weaponization. The vulnerability also poses a risk in targeted phishing or watering hole attacks where malicious web content is used to trigger crashes and distract or disrupt users. Overall, the impact is moderate but significant enough to warrant prompt remediation in European enterprises and public sector entities.

1. Deploy the security updates released in Safari 26.1 and the corresponding OS versions (visionOS 26.1, watchOS 26.1, iOS 26.1, iPadOS 26.1, tvOS 26.1) as soon as possible to eliminate the vulnerability. 2. Implement strict web content filtering and URL reputation services to block access to potentially malicious or untrusted websites that could host crafted content triggering the vulnerability. 3. Educate users about the risks of visiting suspicious websites and encourage cautious browsing behavior, especially avoiding unknown links in emails or messages. 4. Use endpoint protection solutions that can detect abnormal browser crashes or suspicious activity related to Safari processes. 5. For organizations with critical operations, consider deploying alternative browsers temporarily until patches are applied to reduce exposure. 6. Monitor security advisories and threat intelligence feeds for any emerging exploit attempts targeting this vulnerability. 7. Conduct regular audits of Apple device inventories to ensure all systems are updated and compliant with security policies. 8. Employ network segmentation to limit the impact of potential denial of service caused by browser crashes on critical systems.