Incorrect authorization in Meta WhatsApp Desktop for Mac
Priority HIGH 84Exploited in the wildCWE-863Published · Updated
Key facts
- Attack vector
- Network
- Privileges required
- Low
- User interaction
- None
- Attack complexity
- Low
- Impact type
- Security bypass
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
- Low · Low · None
- Fix status
- Fixed
Attack profile from CVSS 3.1 · CNA. Fix status from CNA. Impact type from CWE-863.
Summary
Incomplete authorization of linked device synchronization messages in WhatsApp for iOS prior to v2.25.21.73, WhatsApp Business for iOS v2.25.21.78, and WhatsApp for Mac v2.25.21.78 could have allowed an unrelated user to trigger processing of content from an arbitrary URL on a target’s device. We assess that this vulnerability, in combination with an OS-level vulnerability on Apple platforms (CVE-2025-43300), may have been exploited in a sophisticated attack against specific targeted users.
Why it matters now
Exploitation Active In CISA KEV since 2025-09-02CISA due date 2025-09-23
EPSS 0.13513 96th percentileScored 2026-11-07
Fix Fixed WhatsApp Desktop for Mac (Facebook): 2.25.21.78WhatsApp Business for iOS (Facebook): 2.25.21.78+1 more product
SSVC decision points
CISA ADP · SSVC 2.0.3
- Exploitation
- Active
- Automatable
- No
- Technical impact
- Total
The decision (Track, Attend, Act) also depends on your mission and well-being impact; see CISA's SSVC guide.
Affected products
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Meta | WhatsApp Desktop for Mac | 2.22.25.2 to before 2.25.21.78 | 2.25.21.78 | Patch available | CNA |
| Meta | WhatsApp Business for iOS | 2.22.25.2 to before 2.25.21.78 | 2.25.21.78 | Patch available | CNA |
| Meta | WhatsApp for iOS | 2.22.25.2 to before 2.25.21.73 | 2.25.21.73 | Patch available | CNA |
- WhatsApp Desktop for Mac VendorMeta Affected 2.22.25.2 to before 2.25.21.78 Fixed in 2.25.21.78 Patch available CNA
- WhatsApp Business for iOS VendorMeta Affected 2.22.25.2 to before 2.25.21.78 Fixed in 2.25.21.78 Patch available CNA
- WhatsApp for iOS VendorMeta Affected 2.22.25.2 to before 2.25.21.73 Fixed in 2.25.21.73 Patch available CNA
CPE configurations NVD · 3
| CPE | Versions | Role | Vendor |
|---|---|---|---|
| cpe:2.3:a:whatsapp:whatsapp:*:*:*:*:*:iphone_os:*:* | 2.22.25.2 to before 2.25.21.73 | Vulnerable | |
| cpe:2.3:a:whatsapp:whatsapp:*:*:*:*:*:macos:*:* | 2.22.25.2 to before 2.25.21.78 | Vulnerable | |
| cpe:2.3:a:whatsapp:whatsapp_business:*:*:*:*:*:iphone_os:*:* | 2.22.25.2 to before 2.25.21.78 | Vulnerable |
- cpe:2.3:a:whatsapp:whatsapp:*:*:*:*:*:iphone_os:*:* Versions 2.22.25.2 to before 2.25.21.73 Vulnerable ·WhatsApp
- cpe:2.3:a:whatsapp:whatsapp:*:*:*:*:*:macos:*:* Versions 2.22.25.2 to before 2.25.21.78 Vulnerable ·WhatsApp
- cpe:2.3:a:whatsapp:whatsapp_business:*:*:*:*:*:iphone_os:*:* Versions 2.22.25.2 to before 2.25.21.78 Vulnerable ·WhatsApp
Remediation
- Fix · CNA WhatsApp Desktop for Mac (Facebook) Fixed in 2.25.21.78
- Fix · CNA WhatsApp Business for iOS (Facebook) Fixed in 2.25.21.78
- Fix · CNA WhatsApp for iOS (Facebook) Fixed in 2.25.21.73
Timeline
- 2025-09-02 Added to CISA KEV
- 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2025-55177
- 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-f7wf-m2qg-r9rx
- 2026-10-07 Weakness changed · CISA ADP
- 2026-10-25 EPSS moved to the 95th–99th percentile
References
More Meta vulnerabilities
- TI-2025-34861 Deserialization of untrusted data in Meta react-server-dom-webpack KEVCVSS 3.1CRITICAL 10.0
- TI-2019-02633 Heap-based buffer overflow in Meta WhatsApp for Android KEVCVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.8
- TI-2019-13416 Cross-site scripting in Meta WhatsApp Desktop KEVCVSS 3.1HIGH 8.2
- TI-2023-23979 The HTTP/2 protocol allows a denial of service (server resource consumption) because… KEVCVSS 3.1HIGH 7.5
- TI-2025-34863 Deserialization of untrusted data in Meta react-server-dom-webpack CVSS 3.1HIGH 7.5
- TI-2023-05201 Improper authorization in Meta React Developer Tools Extension CVSS 3.1MEDIUM 6.5
Sources
- CVE-2025-55177 · CVE Program
- CVE-2025-55177 · NVD
- CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-f7wf-m2qg-r9rx · GitHub Advisory Database · CC BY 4.0
This product uses the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD. Sources and licences