iOS and iPadOS: Exposure of Private Personal Information to an Unauthorized Actor
CVE-2025-43496 is a high-severity exposure of private personal information to an unauthorized actor vulnerability in iOS and iPadOS from Apple, with a CVSS 3.1 base score of 7.5 out of 10. It can be exploited remotely over the network by an unauthenticated attacker, without any action from a user. The record lists versions 18.7.2, 26.1 as the first without the flaw, so updating iOS and iPadOS to one of those releases or later removes the exposure. There is no confirmed exploitation so far. EPSS estimates a 0.52% chance of exploitation within 30 days, which is low compared with other CVEs.
High severity with no evidence of exploitation so far.
What to do
- Update iOS and iPadOS to 18.7.2 or 26.1, whichever matches your release line, or a later version.
- Update macOS to 15.7.2 or 26.1, whichever matches your release line, or a later version.
- Update visionOS to 26.1 or a later version.
- Until you can update, restrict network access to the affected service so it is not reachable from untrusted networks.
Affected products and versions
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apple | iOS and iPadOS | before 18.7.2; before 26.1 | 18.7.2, 26.1 |
| Apple | macOS | before 15.7.2; before 26.1 | 15.7.2, 26.1 |
| Apple | visionOS | before 26.1 | 26.1 |
| Apple | watchOS | before 26.1 | 26.1 |
| Apple | iPadOS | before 26.1 | 26.1 |
| Apple | Iphone OS | before 26.1 | 26.1 |
Version data comes from the organisation that assigned the CVE. Confirm against the vendor advisory before deciding you are unaffected.
How the severity score breaks down
- Attack vector
- NetworkCan be exploited remotely over a network, including the internet.
- Attack complexity
- LowNo special conditions are needed; the attack works reliably.
- Privileges required
- NoneNo account or login is needed.
- User interaction
- NoneNo action by a victim is required.
- Scope
- UnchangedImpact stays within the vulnerable component.
- Confidentiality
- NoneNo data is disclosed.
- Integrity
- HighData or code can be modified at will.
- Availability
- NoneAvailability is not affected.
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:N. Scored by CISA (ADP).
Official description
The issue was addressed by adding additional logic. 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 Tahoe 26.1, visionOS 26.1, watchOS 26.1. Remote content may be loaded even when the 'Load Remote Images' setting is turned off.
Source: the CVE record as published by its numbering authority, via NVD and CVE.org.
The underlying weakness: Exposure of Private Personal Information to an Unauthorized Actor
The product does not properly prevent a person's private, personal information from being accessed by actors who either (1) are not explicitly authorized to access the information or (2) do not have the implicit consent of the person about whom the information is collected.
How developers prevent this class of flaw
- Identify and consult all relevant regulations for personal privacy. An organization may be required to comply with certain federal and state regulations, depending on its location, the type of business it conducts, and the nature of any private data it handles. Regulations may include Safe Harbor Privacy Framework, Gramm-Leach Bliley Act (GLBA), Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), and others.
More Exposure of Private Personal Information to an Unauthorized Actor vulnerabilities (CWE-359)
Timeline
- CVE record published.
- CISA published its SSVC assessment (exploitation: none, automatable: yes, technical impact: partial).
- Record last changed materially (score, affected products, status or references).
References
Other references
Other vulnerabilities in iOS and iPadOS
- 8.8 High severity
- 7.5 High severity
- 7.5 High severity
- 7.5 High severity
- 7.5 High severity
- 7.5 High severity
Recent Exposure of Private Personal Information to an Unauthorized Actor vulnerabilities
- 7.5 High severity
- 7.5 High severity
- 7.5 High severity
- 7.7 High severity
- 7.5 High severity
- 8.7 High severity
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