CVE-2026-112414 in iOS
Summary
by MITRE • 10/26/2026
A stack overflow was addressed with improved input validation. This issue is fixed in iOS 26.7.2 and iPadOS 26.7.2, iOS 27.2 and iPadOS 27.2, macOS Golden Gate 27.2, macOS Sequoia 15.8.2, macOS Tahoe 26.7.2, visionOS 27.2. Processing a maliciously crafted message may lead to a denial-of-service.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/27/2026
The vulnerability described involves a stack-based buffer overflow within the Apple operating system ecosystem, specifically affecting iOS, iPadOS, macOS, and visionOS platforms. This type of flaw typically arises when an application or system service writes more data to a fixed-length block of memory on the call stack than it can hold. In this instance, the root cause was insufficient input validation during the processing of messages. When a maliciously crafted message is processed, the excessive data overwrites adjacent memory locations on the stack, corrupting critical control structures such as return addresses or saved frame pointers. The resolution implemented by Apple involves enhancing input validation mechanisms to ensure that incoming data lengths are strictly checked against buffer boundaries before being written to memory, thereby preventing the overflow condition from occurring.
From a technical perspective, this vulnerability aligns with Common Weakness Enumeration (CWE) category CWE-121, which defines stack-based buffer overflows as a subclass of improper restriction of operations within the bounds of a memory buffer. The exploitation vector for such vulnerabilities often involves manipulating input data to trigger arbitrary code execution or, in cases where exploit mitigation techniques like non-executable stacks are active, causing a crash. In this specific scenario, the primary operational impact is identified as a denial-of-service condition rather than remote code execution. This suggests that while the overflow corrupts memory state leading to application instability or termination, it may not have been successfully leveraged for arbitrary instruction execution due to existing security mitigations like Address Space Layout Randomization (ASLR) and Data Execution Prevention (DEP). However, denial-of-service vulnerabilities can still be significant as they disrupt service availability and can potentially serve as a precursor to more complex attacks if other memory corruption flaws are present.
The affected systems include iOS 26.7.2 and iPadOS 26.7.2, representing the latest updates for mobile devices; iOS 27.2 and iPadOS 27.2, indicating newer major version branches; macOS Golden Gate 27.2, macOS Sequoia 15.8.2, and macOS Tahoe 26.7.2, covering various desktop operating system releases; and visionOS 27.2 for spatial computing devices. The consistent presence of this flaw across multiple platforms highlights a systemic issue in the message processing subsystem shared by these environments. Users are advised to update their devices immediately to the patched versions listed above. These updates contain the necessary code changes to enforce stricter input validation, thereby neutralizing the risk associated with processing maliciously crafted messages that could otherwise lead to application crashes or system instability.
In terms of threat intelligence and attack frameworks, this vulnerability can be contextualized within MITRE ATT&CK techniques related to resource exhaustion, such as T1499 Endpoint Denial of Service. While not directly mapping to a specific privilege escalation technique like CWE-78 (OS Command Injection) or CWE-120 (Buffer Copy without Checking Size), the underlying mechanism is fundamentally linked to memory safety violations that are often precursors to more severe exploits. Security administrators should monitor for indicators of compromise related to abnormal process termination in services handling message processing, although direct exploitation evidence may be limited given the stated denial-of-service impact. Regular patching remains the most effective mitigation strategy against such vulnerabilities, as they rely on specific input conditions that can only be prevented by enforcing strict boundary checks at the application level.