CyberSecBulletin
CVE-2025-43500NVD status: Modified

iOS and iPadOS: Exposure of Private Personal Information to an Unauthorized Actor

Published Updated By the CyberSecBulletin desk

CVE-2025-43500 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 version 26.1 as the first without the flaw, so updating iOS and iPadOS to that release 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.

Next patch cycle

High severity with no evidence of exploitation so far.

What to do

  1. Update iOS and iPadOS to 26.1 or a later version.
  2. Update macOS to 26.1 or a later version.
  3. Update visionOS to 26.1 or a later version.
  4. Read the advisory on support.apple.com for workarounds and exact fixed builds.
  5. Until you can update, restrict network access to the affected service so it is not reachable from untrusted networks.

Affected products and versions

VendorProductAffected versionsFixed in
AppleiOS and iPadOSbefore 26.126.1
ApplemacOSbefore 26.126.1
ApplevisionOSbefore 26.126.1
ApplewatchOSbefore 26.126.1
AppleiPadOSbefore 26.126.1
AppleIphone OSbefore 26.126.1

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
HighAll data handled by the component can be read.
Integrity
NoneNothing can be modified.
Availability
NoneAvailability is not affected.

Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N. Scored by CISA (ADP).

Official description

A privacy issue was addressed with improved handling of user preferences. This issue is fixed in iOS 26.1 and iPadOS 26.1, macOS Tahoe 26.1, visionOS 26.1, watchOS 26.1. An app may be able to access sensitive user data.

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

  1. CVE record published.
  2. CISA published its SSVC assessment (exploitation: none, automatable: no, technical impact: partial).
  3. Record last changed materially (score, affected products, status or references).

References

Other vulnerabilities in iOS and iPadOS

All iOS and iPadOS vulnerabilities

Recent Exposure of Private Personal Information to an Unauthorized Actor vulnerabilities

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