CVE-2026-112416 in iPadOS
Summary
by MITRE • 10/26/2026
An out-of-bounds write issue was addressed with improved bounds checking. 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, tvOS 27.2, visionOS 27.2. Processing a maliciously crafted video file may lead to unexpected app termination.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/27/2026
The vulnerability described constitutes an out-of-bounds write flaw within the media processing subsystem of Apple operating systems, specifically affecting components responsible for parsing and decoding video files. This type of memory corruption error occurs when software writes data beyond the boundaries of allocated memory buffers, potentially overwriting adjacent memory structures that may contain critical control information such as return addresses or function pointers. The root cause lies in insufficient validation of input parameters during the processing of maliciously crafted video streams, allowing an attacker to manipulate internal state variables and trigger unauthorized memory modifications. This issue has been addressed through improved bounds checking mechanisms that rigorously verify buffer limits before any write operations are executed, thereby preventing data from spilling into unintended memory regions.
From a technical perspective, this vulnerability aligns with Common Weakness Enumeration (CWE) identifiers such as CWE-787: Out-of-bounds Write and potentially CWE-120: Buffer Copy without Checking Size of Input. The exploitation vector typically involves the ingestion of specially constructed media files that exploit parsing logic errors within codecs or container format handlers. When a user opens or previews such a file, the application processes the malformed data stream, triggering the out-of-bounds write condition. Depending on the specific memory layout and heap state at the time of execution, this could lead to immediate application termination due to segmentation faults or access violations. In more sophisticated scenarios, if the overwritten memory contains executable code pointers or security-critical structures, it may facilitate arbitrary code execution with the privileges of the affected process, although the primary reported impact is denial of service through unexpected app crashes.
The operational impact centers on reliability and availability rather than immediate remote code execution in all cases. Users encountering these maliciously crafted video files experience abrupt application termination, which disrupts workflow and can lead to data loss if unsaved work was present in the affected applications. While the primary symptom is a crash, the underlying memory corruption represents a significant security risk that could be chained with other vulnerabilities or leveraged for further exploitation depending on the specific context of the running process. The vulnerability affects multiple platforms including iOS, iPadOS, macOS, tvOS, and visionOS, indicating a shared codebase in Apple's multimedia frameworks where similar parsing logic is reused across different device ecosystems.
Mitigation strategies primarily involve applying the provided software updates to ensure that the improved bounds checking mechanisms are active within the media processing libraries. For end-users, this means updating iOS, iPadOS, macOS, tvOS, and visionOS to the specified patched versions listed in the advisory. Administrators should enforce patch management policies to keep all devices current with these security fixes. Additionally, users can reduce risk by avoiding opening video files from untrusted sources or using sandboxed environments for previewing suspicious media content until updates are applied. Security monitoring tools may also be configured to detect anomalous memory access patterns associated with out-of-bounds writes in multimedia processes, although the most effective defense remains timely patch deployment and adherence to secure coding practices that enforce strict input validation during file parsing operations.