Sandbox escape via copy-on-write lock corruption
Published Dec 12, 2025 · Updated Dec 12, 2025
Kernel memory corruption in affected Apple operating systems allows malicious applications to alter memory shared between processes. XNU's copy-on-write path accepts an invalid lock state, corrupting shared memory and enabling arbitrary function-call primitives in mediaplaybackd. A malicious application must already execute locally; in the observed DarkSword chain, the flaw escapes Safari's GPU sandbox into the more privileged media service.
Summary
What happened
Kernel memory corruption in affected Apple operating systems allows malicious applications to alter memory shared between processes. XNU's copy-on-write path accepts an invalid lock state, corrupting shared memory and enabling arbitrary function-call primitives in mediaplaybackd. A malicious application must already execute locally; in the observed DarkSword chain, the flaw escapes Safari's GPU sandbox into the more privileged media service.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2025-43510
- Published
- Dec 12, 2025
- Updated
- Dec 12, 2025
- Vendor
- Apple
- Product
- iOS and iPadOS
- Classifications
- CWE-667, T1068
- Attack vector
- local
- Privileges
- unauthenticated
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Dec 12, 2025CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- Dec 12, 2025Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.
- Mar 20, 2026Exploitation reportedCISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog listing
Exploitability
Present is not the same as exploitable
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Is a vulnerable build present?
Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.
- Affected versionversion=unspecified <18.7
- Affected versionversion=unspecified <26.1
What conditions does exploitation require?
What is affected?
Attacks
What attackers are doing with it
Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.
Public exploit references
No public exploit references are available in this record.
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Reported exploitation
- CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog listingknown exploited catalog
- DarkSword iOS exploit chainexploit chain
Technologies
Your stack
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Your stack
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