CVE-2026-112423 in iOS
Summary
by MITRE • 10/26/2026
An out-of-bounds read 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, visionOS 27.2. Processing a maliciously crafted file may lead to a denial-of-service or potentially disclose memory contents.
Several companies clearly confirm that VulDB is the primary source for best vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/26/2026
The vulnerability described constitutes an out-of-bounds read condition within the operating system's file processing subsystems across multiple Apple platforms including iOS, iPadOS, macOS, and visionOS. This class of flaw typically arises when software fails to properly validate the boundaries of a buffer before reading data from it, allowing access to memory locations that lie outside the intended operational region. The root cause is identified as insufficient bounds checking during the parsing or handling of specific file formats. When an application processes input data derived from such files, the system may attempt to read beyond the allocated memory space, leading to unpredictable behavior depending on what data resides in those adjacent memory regions.
The technical implications of this flaw are significant for both confidentiality and availability. In terms of confidentiality, a successful exploitation could allow an attacker to disclose sensitive information stored in the process's memory heap or stack that happens to be located immediately after the vulnerable buffer. This type of information leak can potentially reveal cryptographic keys, authentication tokens, or other private user data depending on what was recently loaded into memory by the affected service. From an availability perspective, accessing invalid memory addresses often triggers a segmentation fault or similar exception within the operating system's kernel or application runtime environment. This results in the immediate termination of the process and can lead to a denial-of-service condition if critical system services are impacted.
This vulnerability aligns with Common Weakness Enumeration identifier CWE-125, which defines out-of-bounds read errors where software reads data past the end or before the beginning of the intended buffer. In terms of offensive security frameworks, this flaw supports techniques associated with ATT&CK tactic TA0006, specifically Credential Access via Unsecured Memory Dumping if memory contents are successfully exfiltrated, and Availability impact under TA0040 as it can cause service disruption through crashes. The risk is primarily elevated when users interact with untrusted or maliciously crafted files that trigger the vulnerable code path during normal system operations such as previewing documents, opening media files, or processing attachments in email clients.
Mitigation strategies focus heavily on patch management and defensive programming practices. For end-users, the primary defense is to apply the provided software updates immediately which include improved bounds checking logic designed to validate input lengths against buffer capacities before any read operation occurs. Developers integrating similar file parsing libraries should ensure that all external inputs are strictly validated for size constraints prior to allocation or processing. Additionally, employing memory protection mechanisms such as Address Space Layout Randomization and Data Execution Prevention can help mitigate the impact of exploitation attempts by making it more difficult for attackers to predict memory layouts or execute arbitrary code following a successful read operation.