Detect Apple WebKit Use-After-Free Exploitation Attempt (CVE-2025-43529) in IBM QRadar
Detects exploitation attempts targeting CVE-2025-43529, a use-after-free vulnerability in Apple's WebKit browser engine affecting multiple Apple products. This vulnerability is actively exploited in the wild (CISA KEV) and can lead to arbitrary code execution when a user visits a maliciously crafted webpage. Attackers may leverage this flaw to achieve initial access or privilege escalation on macOS, iOS, and iPadOS devices.
MITRE ATT&CK
QRadar Detection Query
SELECT DATEFORMAT(starttime,'YYYY-MM-dd HH:mm:ss') as EventTime, sourceip, destinationip, username, "Process Name", "Parent Process Name", "Command", LOGSOURCENAME(logsourceid) as LogSource
FROM events
WHERE LOGSOURCETYPENAME(devicetype) IN ('Apple macOS', 'CrowdStrike Falcon Data Replicator', 'Carbon Black Defense')
AND ("Parent Process Name" ILIKE '%WebProcess%' OR "Parent Process Name" ILIKE '%Safari%' OR "Parent Process Name" ILIKE '%WebKit%')
AND ("Process Name" IN ('sh', 'bash', 'zsh', 'python3', 'curl', 'osascript', 'launchctl', 'nc', 'ncat', 'xterm'))
AND LOGSOURCE LAST 7 DAYS
ORDER BY starttime DESCQRadar AQL query detecting WebKit/Safari parent processes spawning suspicious interpreter or shell child processes on macOS, indicative of CVE-2025-43529 exploitation.
Data Sources
Required Tables
False Positives & Tuning
- Legitimate developer tools that spawn shells from browser automation
- Enterprise MDM solutions using browser-initiated scripting
- Browser-based terminal emulators in developer environments
- Security software running osascript for macOS automation tasks
Other platforms for CVE-2025-43529
Testing Methodology
Validate this detection against 3 adversary techniques from Atomic Red Team. Each test below lists the behaviour to exercise and the telemetry you should expect to see. Executable commands and cleanup steps are available with Pro.
- Test 1Simulate WebKit Child Process Spawn (macOS)
Expected signal: Process creation event: parent=osascript, child=bash; bash executing id and whoami commands
- Test 2WebProcess Curl Outbound Simulation
Expected signal: Network connection event: process=curl, initiated from simulated WebKit parent context, destination=127.0.0.1:9999
- Test 3Launchctl Persistence Attempt Post-WebKit Exploitation
Expected signal: Process creation: launchctl load with plist argument; file write to /tmp/webkit_test/test.plist; LaunchAgent registration event in macOS Unified Log
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Get the full detection package for CVE-2025-43529 including response playbook, investigation guide, and atomic red team tests.