watchOS 26.1 Security Update

What watchOS 26.1 Fixes

watchOS 26.1, released November 3, 2025, fixes 35 vulnerabilities in 19 parts of the system, according to Apple's security advisory.

Apple does not say that any of them were exploited before the fix. That makes watchOS 26.1 a routine security update: worth installing soon, not an emergency.

It has since been superseded: the newest security release for watchOS 26 is watchOS 26.6, from July 27, 2026, which includes these fixes.

Grouped by us from the impact Apple gives for each fix; the impact lines below are Apple's own.

Which Devices Get watchOS 26.1

Apple lists watchOS 26.1 for: Apple Watch Series 6 and later.

How to Install watchOS 26.1

Open the Watch app on the paired iPhone, then General → Software Update. The watch needs to be on its charger and within range of the iPhone.

Security fixes are cumulative: any later release for the same version includes these as well, so if you are already past watchOS 26.1 there is nothing to do.

Every Fix in watchOS 26.1

All 35 CVEs in Apple's advisory, the most serious kinds first. Each entry is the part of the system affected, Apple's description of the impact and the fix, and the CVE ID.

• Apple Neural Engine

  An app may be able to cause unexpected system termination or corrupt kernel memory

  The issue was addressed with improved memory handling.

  CVE-2025-43447 CVE-2025-43462

• CloudKit

  An app may be able to break out of its sandbox

  This issue was addressed with improved validation of symlinks.

  CVE-2025-43448

• Kernel

  A malicious application may be able to cause unexpected system termination or write kernel memory

  A memory corruption issue was addressed with improved memory handling.

  CVE-2025-43520

• libxpc

  A sandboxed app may be able to observe system-wide network connections

  An access issue was addressed with additional sandbox restrictions.

  CVE-2025-43413

• Apple Account

  A malicious app may be able to take a screenshot of sensitive information in embedded views

  A privacy issue was addressed with improved checks.

  CVE-2025-43455

• AppleMobileFileIntegrity

  An app may be able to access protected user data

  This issue was addressed with improved validation of symlinks.

  CVE-2025-43379

• MallocStackLogging

  An app may be able to access sensitive user data

  An issue existed in the handling of environment variables. This issue was addressed with improved validation.

  CVE-2025-43294

• Sandbox Profiles

  An app may be able to access sensitive user data

  A privacy issue was addressed with improved handling of user preferences.

  CVE-2025-43500

• Safari

  Visiting a malicious website may lead to user interface spoofing

  An inconsistent user interface issue was addressed with improved state management.

  CVE-2025-43503

• WebKit

  A malicious website may exfiltrate data cross-origin

  The issue was addressed with improved checks.

  CVE-2025-43480

• WebKit Canvas

  A website may exfiltrate image data cross-origin

  The issue was addressed with improved handling of caches.

  CVE-2025-43392

• CoreText

  Processing a maliciously crafted media file may lead to unexpected app termination or corrupt process memory

  An out-of-bounds read was addressed with improved input validation.

  CVE-2025-43445

• FontParser

  Processing a maliciously crafted font may lead to unexpected app termination or corrupt process memory

  An out-of-bounds write issue was addressed with improved bounds checking.

  CVE-2025-43400

• Kernel

  An app may be able to cause unexpected system termination

  The issue was addressed with improved memory handling.

  CVE-2025-43398

• Kernel

  A malicious application may cause unexpected changes in memory shared between processes

  A memory corruption issue was addressed with improved lock state checking.

  CVE-2025-43510

• Mail

  An attacker may be able to cause a persistent denial-of-service

  A mail header parsing issue was addressed with improved checks.

  CVE-2025-43494

• WebKit

  Processing maliciously crafted web content may lead to an unexpected process crash

  This issue was addressed through improved state management.

  CVE-2025-43458 CVE-2025-43430

• WebKit

  Processing maliciously crafted web content may lead to an unexpected process crash

  This issue was addressed with improved checks.

  CVE-2025-43443

• WebKit

  Processing maliciously crafted web content may lead to an unexpected process crash

  This issue was addressed with improved checks

  CVE-2025-43440

• WebKit

  Processing maliciously crafted web content may lead to an unexpected Safari crash

  A use-after-free issue was addressed with improved memory management.

  CVE-2025-43438 CVE-2025-43457 CVE-2025-43434

• WebKit

  Processing maliciously crafted web content may lead to an unexpected process crash

  The issue was addressed with improved memory handling.

  CVE-2025-43435 CVE-2025-43425

• WebKit

  Processing maliciously crafted web content may lead to memory corruption

  The issue was addressed with improved memory handling.

  CVE-2025-43433 CVE-2025-43431

• WebKit

  Processing maliciously crafted web content may lead to an unexpected process crash

  A use-after-free issue was addressed with improved memory management.

  CVE-2025-43432

• WebKit

  Processing maliciously crafted web content may lead to an unexpected process crash

  A buffer overflow was addressed with improved bounds checking.

  CVE-2025-43429

• CoreServices

  An app may be able to enumerate a user's installed apps

  A permissions issue was addressed with additional restrictions.

  CVE-2025-43436

• Find My

  An app may be able to fingerprint the user

  A privacy issue was addressed by moving sensitive data.

  CVE-2025-43507

• Installer

  An app may be able to fingerprint the user

  A permissions issue was addressed with additional restrictions.

  CVE-2025-43444

• Mail Drafts

  Remote content may be loaded even when the 'Load Remote Images' setting is turned off

  The issue was addressed by adding additional logic.

  CVE-2025-43496

• Phone

  An attacker with physical access to a locked Apple Watch may be able to view Live Voicemail

  An authentication issue was addressed with improved state management.

  CVE-2025-43459

watchOS 26 Security Release History

watchOS 26.1 in context: the security releases Apple has published for watchOS 26, newest first, with the number of fixes each carried.

The Same Fixes Elsewhere

Apple ships most fixes to every platform that shares the code, and to older versions still under support. These releases close at least one of the same CVEs:

Frequently Asked Questions