CVE-2025-43535 is a memory handling vulnerability in Apple’s iOS and iPadOS platforms, specifically affecting the Safari browser and its web content processing engine. The flaw allows specially crafted web content to trigger an unexpected process crash, likely due to improper memory management when parsing or rendering malicious input. This can result in denial-of-service conditions by terminating critical browser or system processes, potentially disrupting user activities and dependent applications. Apple has addressed this issue by improving memory handling in Safari 26.2 and corresponding OS updates (iOS 18.7.3, iPadOS 18.7.3, macOS Tahoe 26.2, visionOS 26.2). The vulnerability does not require user authentication but does require user interaction in the form of visiting or processing malicious web content. No evidence of active exploitation in the wild has been reported to date. The lack of a CVSS score suggests the need for an independent severity assessment based on impact and exploitability factors. The vulnerability primarily threatens availability rather than confidentiality or integrity, as it causes process crashes rather than code execution or data leakage.

For European organizations, the primary impact of CVE-2025-43535 is the potential for denial-of-service conditions on Apple devices, particularly iPhones and iPads running vulnerable versions of iOS and iPadOS. This could disrupt business operations, especially in sectors relying on mobile productivity, remote work, or customer-facing applications accessed via Safari. Critical services that depend on mobile device availability, such as healthcare, finance, and government services, may experience interruptions if targeted by malicious web content. While the vulnerability does not appear to allow privilege escalation or data compromise, repeated or widespread exploitation could degrade user trust and operational continuity. Additionally, organizations with Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) policies may face increased risk if employees’ devices are affected. The absence of known exploits reduces immediate risk but does not eliminate the threat, as attackers could develop exploits once the vulnerability details are public.

Organizations should prioritize immediate deployment of the security updates released by Apple: Safari 26.2, iOS 18.7.3, iPadOS 18.7.3, macOS Tahoe 26.2, and visionOS 26.2. IT teams must ensure all managed Apple devices are updated promptly to eliminate the vulnerability. For unmanaged or BYOD devices, user awareness campaigns should emphasize the risks of visiting untrusted websites and encourage updating devices regularly. Network-level protections such as web filtering and intrusion prevention systems can help block access to known malicious sites hosting crafted web content. Monitoring for unusual browser crashes or device instability may provide early indicators of attempted exploitation. Additionally, organizations should review and tighten policies around mobile device management (MDM) to enforce patch compliance and restrict installation of untrusted applications or profiles. Incident response plans should include procedures for handling denial-of-service events caused by browser crashes.