CVE-2025-43510 is a memory corruption vulnerability identified in Apple's operating systems, including macOS (Sonoma 14.8.2, Sequoia 15.7.2, Tahoe 26.1), iOS (18.7.2, 26.1), iPadOS (18.7.2, 26.1), watchOS 26.1, visionOS 26.1, and tvOS 26.1. The root cause is an issue with lock state checking related to shared memory between processes, classified under CWE-362 (Concurrent Execution using Shared Resource with Improper Synchronization). A malicious application can exploit this flaw to cause unexpected changes in shared memory, potentially leading to arbitrary code execution, privilege escalation, or data corruption. The vulnerability requires user interaction (launching the malicious app) but no prior privileges, making it accessible to a wide range of attackers. The CVSS v3.1 score of 7.8 (high) reflects the vulnerability's impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability, with low attack complexity and no privileges required. Apple has released patches in the latest OS versions to address this issue by improving lock state checking mechanisms to prevent race conditions and memory corruption. No public exploits or active exploitation have been reported yet, but the vulnerability's nature and affected platforms make it a critical concern for users and organizations relying on Apple devices.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a significant risk due to the widespread use of Apple devices in business, government, and critical infrastructure sectors. Exploitation can lead to unauthorized access to sensitive data, disruption of services, and potential lateral movement within networks. Confidentiality breaches could expose intellectual property, personal data protected under GDPR, and strategic information. Integrity compromises may affect system reliability and data accuracy, while availability impacts could disrupt business operations. The requirement for user interaction limits remote exploitation but does not eliminate risk, especially in environments where users may install untrusted applications or be targeted by social engineering. Sectors such as finance, healthcare, government, and technology firms in Europe are particularly vulnerable due to their reliance on Apple ecosystems and the high value of their data. Failure to patch promptly could result in increased exposure to advanced persistent threats or cybercriminal campaigns leveraging this vulnerability.

European organizations should prioritize immediate deployment of Apple’s security updates across all affected devices, including macOS, iOS, iPadOS, watchOS, visionOS, and tvOS. Beyond patching, organizations should enforce strict application control policies, such as using Apple’s MDM solutions to restrict installation of untrusted or unsigned applications. Implementing endpoint detection and response (EDR) tools capable of monitoring inter-process memory access patterns can help detect anomalous behavior indicative of exploitation attempts. User awareness training should emphasize the risks of installing unknown applications and recognizing social engineering tactics. Network segmentation can limit the impact of a compromised device. Additionally, organizations should audit and harden shared memory usage in custom applications and review concurrency controls to reduce attack surface. Regular vulnerability scanning and penetration testing focused on Apple environments will help identify residual risks. Maintaining an incident response plan tailored to Apple device compromise scenarios is also recommended.