Use-After-Free Vulnerability in Safari Affecting Apple Products

CVE-2025-43216

What is CVE-2025-43216?

CVE-2025-43216 is a use-after-free vulnerability identified in Safari, Apple's web browser, impacting various Apple products, including iOS devices and macOS systems. Use-after-free vulnerabilities occur when a program continues to reference memory after it has been released, potentially leading to arbitrary code execution and crashes. In the context of Safari, this flaw could be exploited by processing specially crafted web content, causing unexpected crashes and potentially leading to unauthorized actions on the affected device. Given that Safari serves as the gateway to online content for millions of users, an exploit leveraging this vulnerability could disrupt services, compromise user data integrity, or facilitate further attacks.

Potential impact of CVE-2025-43216

1. Crash and Service Disruption: The immediate impact of the vulnerability is the potential for crashes resulting from processing malicious web content. This not only disrupts user sessions but could also lead to the loss of unsaved work and affect user experience significantly.

2. Security Breach Risk: While currently unexploited, the nature of the vulnerability may allow for remote code execution if an attacker successfully manipulates web content. This could lead to unauthorized access to sensitive data or systems, increasing the risk of further security breaches.

3. Wider Attack Surface: As Safari is deeply integrated into various Apple ecosystems, any successful exploitation may not only affect the browser but could have ramifications across connected devices. This interplay increases vulnerability across an organization's environment and could facilitate lateral movement within networks, posing a broader security threat.

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