CVE-2025-43510: Apple Multiple Products Improper Locking Vulnerability
Apple watchOS, iOS, iPadOS, macOS, visionOS, and tvOS contain an improper locking vulnerability that could allow a malicious application to cause unexpected changes in memory shared between processes.
How it works
The weakness is categorized as CWE-667, improper locking. In this class of flaw, synchronization primitives that protect shared resources are not applied consistently or correctly. An attacker-supplied application running on the same device can therefore reach memory regions that should be protected during concurrent access.
Because the products listed share a common kernel and framework base, the same locking omission can appear across phone, tablet, watch, desktop, headset, and set-top operating systems. The CISA summary states only that a malicious application can cause unexpected changes; no further mechanics are provided.
Am I affected? How to find it in your systems
Inventory all managed and unmanaged devices running watchOS, iOS, iPadOS, macOS, visionOS, or tvOS. On Apple platforms this typically means querying MDM solutions, running system_profiler or systeminformation commands locally, or exporting device lists from Apple Business Manager or Apple School Manager. Check every listed operating system family; the vulnerability description does not limit impact to specific hardware models.
- Confirm exact build numbers and configurations against the vendor advisory, as the supplied summary does not enumerate versions.
- Look for processes that rely on shared memory or inter-process communication frameworks; these are the areas the flaw description highlights.
- Review application logs or device analytics for unexpected memory-related crashes or anomalies, though the summary provides no specific telemetry indicators.
How to remediate
Apply mitigations per the vendor instructions referenced in the CISA advisory. Where the affected software is used as a cloud service, follow applicable BOD 22-01 guidance. If mitigations cannot be obtained, discontinue use of the product.
- Prioritize devices that accept third-party applications, because the summary identifies a malicious application as the vector.
- After applying updates, re-inventory to verify that the corrected builds are present on all managed endpoints.
If you can't patch immediately
Until a vendor update can be deployed, reduce exposure by limiting installation of untrusted applications on affected devices. Segment networks so that compromised mobile or desktop endpoints cannot easily reach sensitive internal resources. Monitor for anomalous inter-process behavior through existing endpoint detection tooling, and consider disabling features that rely heavily on shared memory where operationally feasible. If the products are consumed as cloud services, apply the controls required by BOD 22-01.
If your data may have been exposed
Actively exploited vulnerabilities can lead to breaches. You can run a free exposure scan of your email addresses to check known breach data.
AICompiled with AI assistance from public sources and published under our editorial standards.