CVE-2026-112456 in iOS
Summary
by MITRE • 10/26/2026
An out-of-bounds write issue 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. Processing a maliciously crafted file may lead to heap corruption.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/27/2026
The vulnerability described constitutes an out-of-bounds write condition within the Apple operating system ecosystem, specifically affecting iOS, iPadOS, and various iterations of macOS including Sequoia and Tahoe variants. This class of defect is fundamentally rooted in improper memory management where a software application writes data beyond the boundaries of allocated buffers or arrays. Such flaws are typically categorized under CWE-787: Out-of-bounds Write within standard vulnerability classification frameworks. The root cause lies insufficient input validation mechanisms that fail to adequately verify the size, length, or structure of external inputs before they are processed by internal system components. When a maliciously crafted file is introduced into the environment, it triggers this unchecked memory access pattern, allowing an attacker to manipulate data in unintended memory locations rather than within the designated buffer space.
The operational impact of this vulnerability centers on heap corruption, which represents a severe compromise of application stability and potentially security integrity. Heap corruption occurs when write operations overwrite adjacent memory structures that are critical for program execution or state management. This can lead to immediate application crashes, resulting in denial-of-service conditions where legitimate users lose access to services provided by the affected system components. More critically, heap corruption creates opportunities for arbitrary code execution if an attacker can carefully control the overwritten data to hijack control flow pointers such as function return addresses or virtual table pointers. In mobile and desktop environments like iOS and macOS, this could potentially allow a malicious application or web content to escalate privileges or execute commands with higher levels of system access than intended by security policies.
From a tactical perspective, exploitation of this vulnerability aligns with techniques observed in the MITRE ATT&CK framework, particularly those involving memory corruption for initial code execution. Attackers would likely deliver the malformed file through social engineering vectors such as phishing emails or compromised websites that prompt users to open specific document types. Once opened, the parser within the operating system processes the input without sufficient boundary checks, leading to the out-of-bounds write event. The severity of this issue is heightened by its presence in multiple major platform versions, indicating a systemic weakness in how certain file formats are parsed across different Apple products. This widespread nature increases the attack surface and necessitates urgent remediation efforts across all affected device types.
Mitigation strategies primarily rely on the deployment of vendor-provided software updates that address these input validation gaps. For end-users, this involves ensuring that iOS devices running versions prior to 26.7.2 or 27.2, iPadOS devices before those same version thresholds, and macOS systems including Sequoia 15.8.2, Tahoe 26.7.2, and Golden Gate 27.2 are updated to their latest patched releases. These updates contain the necessary code changes to enforce strict bounds checking during file parsing operations. In addition to patching, defense-in-depth measures such as enabling sandboxing features inherent in modern iOS and macOS architectures can help limit the impact of any successful exploitation by restricting the privileges granted to applications handling untrusted input. Security administrators should also monitor for indicators of compromise related to unusual memory usage patterns or unexpected application crashes that might signal attempted exploitation attempts against systems not yet updated.