CVE-2025-43533 is a vulnerability identified in Apple tvOS and other Apple operating systems (watchOS, iOS, iPadOS, macOS Tahoe, visionOS) prior to version 26.2. The root cause is multiple memory corruption issues stemming from insufficient input validation of data originating from Human Interface Devices (HIDs). A malicious HID device—such as a compromised keyboard, mouse, or other input peripherals—can send crafted input data that triggers memory corruption, leading to an unexpected process crash. This vulnerability falls under CWE-20 (Improper Input Validation). The attack vector requires local access (AV:A), no privileges (PR:N), but does require user interaction (UI:R), such as connecting or interacting with the malicious device. The scope is unchanged (S:U), and the impact affects availability only (A:L), with no confidentiality or integrity loss. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 3.5, indicating low severity. Apple has fixed the issue in the 26.2 updates for all affected platforms. No public exploits or active exploitation have been reported. The vulnerability primarily results in denial-of-service conditions by crashing processes, which could disrupt device usability or services relying on tvOS or related platforms. The fix involves improved input validation to prevent memory corruption from malformed HID input data.

For European organizations, the primary impact of CVE-2025-43533 is potential denial-of-service (DoS) on Apple tvOS devices and other affected Apple platforms. This could disrupt media delivery, digital signage, or other services relying on Apple TV devices, especially in environments where such devices are integrated into business operations or customer-facing systems. While the vulnerability does not allow data theft or code execution, repeated or targeted crashes could degrade service availability and user experience. Organizations with physical access control weaknesses could be more vulnerable if attackers can connect malicious HID devices. The impact is limited to availability and requires physical proximity, reducing the risk of large-scale remote exploitation. However, in sectors like retail, hospitality, or corporate environments where Apple TV devices are used extensively, even short-term outages could have operational or reputational consequences.

To mitigate CVE-2025-43533, European organizations should: 1) Immediately update all affected Apple devices (tvOS, watchOS, iOS, iPadOS, macOS Tahoe, visionOS) to version 26.2 or later to apply the security patches. 2) Implement strict physical security controls to prevent unauthorized individuals from connecting external HID devices to Apple TV and other Apple platforms. 3) Use device management solutions to restrict or monitor peripheral device connections where possible. 4) Educate staff about the risks of connecting unknown or untrusted USB or Bluetooth HID devices. 5) Monitor device logs for unusual crashes or input device behavior that could indicate attempted exploitation. 6) Consider disabling unused HID interfaces or ports if feasible in the deployment environment. These steps go beyond generic patching by emphasizing physical security and device management to reduce attack surface.