Apple Rushes Patch for Critical 0-Day Under Active Exploitation

Apple issued an emergency security update for iOS 18.6.2 and iPadOS 18.6.2 on August 20, 2025, addressing a critical vulnerability that the company acknowledges may have been actively exploited in sophisticated targeted attacks.

The update addresses a serious memory corruption flaw in the ImageIO framework that could allow attackers to compromise devices by exploiting malicious image files.

Critical Vulnerability Under Active Exploitation

The security update addresses CVE-2025-43300, an out-of-bounds write vulnerability in ImageIO that poses significant risks to users.

According to Apple’s security advisory, processing a malicious image file could result in memory corruption, potentially allowing attackers to execute arbitrary code or gain unauthorized access to sensitive information.

The vulnerability affects the system’s ability to safely process image files, a fundamental function used across countless applications and system processes.

Apple’s acknowledgment that this issue “may have been exploited in an extremely sophisticated attack against specific targeted individuals” indicates the vulnerability was likely weaponized in real-world attacks before the patch became available.

This designation typically suggests state-sponsored or advanced persistent threat actors may have incorporated the exploit into their attack arsenal, targeting high-value individuals such as journalists, activists, government officials, or business executives.

Affected Devices and Technical Details

The security update is available for a broad range of Apple devices, including iPhone XS and later models, iPad Pro 13-inch, iPad Pro 12.9-inch 3rd generation and later, iPad Pro 11-inch 1st generation and later, iPad Air 3rd generation and later, iPad 7th generation and later, and iPad mini 5th generation and later.

This extensive device compatibility ensures that most users with modern Apple hardware can install the protective patch.

The technical nature of the vulnerability centers on improper bounds checking within the ImageIO framework.

An out-of-bounds write occurs when a program attempts to write data beyond the allocated memory buffer, potentially overwriting critical system data or code.

Apple addressed this issue by implementing improved bounds checking mechanisms that prevent malicious image files from triggering the memory corruption condition.

Immediate Action Required

Given the active exploitation of this vulnerability, security experts strongly recommend that all eligible device owners install iOS 18.6.2 and iPadOS 18.6.2 immediately.

The update represents Apple’s rapid response to a zero-day vulnerability that posed immediate risks to user security and privacy.

This security update follows Apple’s standard disclosure policy of not discussing vulnerabilities until patches are available, helping prevent widespread exploitation while fixes are developed.

Users can install the update through their device settings under Software Update, and the installation process typically takes 15-30 minutes depending on device model and network conditions.

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