---
id: CVE-2025-43520
title: A memory corruption issue was addressed with improved memory handling
summary: >-
  A memory corruption issue was addressed with improved memory handling. This
  issue is fixed in iOS 18.7.2 and iPadOS 18.7.2, iOS 26.1 and iPadOS 26.1,
  macOS Sequoia 15.7.2, macOS Sonoma 14.8.2, macOS Tahoe 26.1, tvOS 26.1,
  visionOS 26.1, …
severity: medium
cvss: 5.5
cvssVector: 'CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H'
cwe:
  - CWE-120
vendor: apple
product: ipados
affected:
  - ipados < 18.7.2
  - ipados = 26.0
  - iphone_os < 18.7.2
  - iphone_os = 26.0
  - 'macos >= 14.0, < 14.8.2'
  - 'macos >= 15.0, < 15.7.2'
  - macos = 26.0
  - tvos < 26.1
  - visionos < 26.1
  - watchos < 26.1
patched:
  - ipados 18.7.2
  - iphone_os 18.7.2
  - macos 15.7.2
  - tvos 26.1
  - visionos 26.1
  - watchos 26.1
published: '2025-12-12'
updated: '2026-10-07'
sourceUpdated: '2026-10-07T11:10:00.153'
source: NVD
sourceUrl: 'https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2025-43520'
references:
  - url: 'https://support.apple.com/en-us/125632'
    label: product-security@apple.com
  - url: 'https://support.apple.com/en-us/125633'
    label: product-security@apple.com
  - url: 'https://support.apple.com/en-us/125634'
    label: product-security@apple.com
  - url: 'https://support.apple.com/en-us/125635'
    label: product-security@apple.com
  - url: 'https://support.apple.com/en-us/125636'
    label: product-security@apple.com
  - url: 'https://support.apple.com/en-us/125637'
    label: product-security@apple.com
  - url: 'https://support.apple.com/en-us/125638'
    label: product-security@apple.com
  - url: 'https://support.apple.com/en-us/125639'
    label: product-security@apple.com
  - url: >-
      https://cloud.google.com/blog/topics/threat-intelligence/darksword-ios-exploit-chain/
    label: 134c704f-9b21-4f2e-91b3-4a467353bcc0
  - url: >-
      https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2025-43520
    label: 134c704f-9b21-4f2e-91b3-4a467353bcc0
tags:
  - nvd
  - kev
  - in-the-wild
  - cve.org
  - exploit-available
epss: 0.00425
epssPercentile: 0.36603
kev: true
kevDateAdded: '2026-03-20'
kevDueDate: '2026-04-03'
kevRansomware: false
exploited: true
exploitAvailable: true
ssvc:
  exploitation: active
  automatable: 'no'
  technicalImpact: total
  timestamp: '2026-03-21T04:01:02.724402Z'
ingestedAt: '2026-09-21T17:49:53.185Z'
---

## Overview

A memory corruption issue was addressed with improved memory handling. This issue is fixed in iOS 18.7.2 and iPadOS 18.7.2, iOS 26.1 and iPadOS 26.1, macOS Sequoia 15.7.2, macOS Sonoma 14.8.2, macOS Tahoe 26.1, tvOS 26.1, visionOS 26.1, watchOS 26.1. A malicious application may be able to cause unexpected system termination or write kernel memory.

## Affected

- `ipados < 18.7.2`
- `ipados = 26.0`
- `iphone_os < 18.7.2`
- `iphone_os = 26.0`
- `macos >= 14.0, < 14.8.2`
- `macos >= 15.0, < 15.7.2`
- `macos = 26.0`
- `tvos < 26.1`
- `visionos < 26.1`
- `watchos < 26.1`

## Remediation

Upgrade past the affected range:

- `ipados 18.7.2`
- `iphone_os 18.7.2`
- `macos 15.7.2`
- `tvos 26.1`
- `visionos 26.1`
- `watchos 26.1`