CVE-2026-112576 in iOS
Summary
by MITRE • 10/26/2026
A memory integrity issue was addressed with improved handling of copy-on-write pages. 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, watchOS 27.2. An app may be able to cause unexpected changes to copy-on-write memory.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/27/2026
The vulnerability described involves a critical flaw in the operating system's handling of copy-on-write mechanisms within memory management subsystems. Copy-on-write is a resource-saving technique commonly used by modern operating systems where pages are shared between processes until one process attempts to modify them, at which point the system creates a private copy for that specific process. The identified issue stems from an improper validation or state tracking logic during this transition phase, allowing an application to trigger unexpected modifications to memory regions that should remain isolated or read-only under normal circumstances. This defect represents a failure in enforcing strict boundaries between user-space applications and kernel-managed memory structures, which is fundamental to maintaining system stability and security integrity on Apple platforms including iOS, iPadOS, macOS, tvOS, visionOS, and watchOS.
From a technical perspective, this flaw aligns with CWE-120 Buffer Overflow or more specifically CWE-787 Out-of-bounds Write if the unexpected changes involve writing to memory locations outside of intended boundaries due to incorrect pointer arithmetic or state mismanagement during page duplication. Alternatively, it may relate to CWE-693 Protection Mechanism Failure where the system fails to enforce access controls correctly during the copy-on-write operation. The core issue lies in the race condition or logic error that allows an app to manipulate memory pages before they are properly isolated for exclusive use by a single process. This can lead to data corruption, privilege escalation if kernel memory is affected, or denial of service through system crashes caused by invalid memory access patterns.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant because it undermines the fundamental isolation guarantees provided by the operating system's virtual memory manager. An attacker who can exploit this flaw might be able to read sensitive information from other processes that share the same underlying physical pages before they are copied, leading to potential data leakage akin to CWE-200 Information Exposure. Furthermore, if the unexpected changes allow for writing into protected memory regions, it could facilitate arbitrary code execution or privilege escalation attacks. This type of vulnerability is particularly dangerous in multi-user environments or when running untrusted third-party applications, as a malicious app could leverage this flaw to compromise other apps or system services without requiring elevated privileges initially.
In the context of cyber attack frameworks such as MITRE ATT&CK, this vulnerability relates primarily to techniques involving memory manipulation and potentially privilege escalation. It falls under tactics like Defense Evasion if used to bypass security controls by corrupting integrity checks, or Privilege Escalation if it allows gaining higher-level access through corrupted kernel structures. The exploitation vector typically requires local execution within a sandboxed app environment, making the initial attack surface smaller than remote code execution vulnerabilities but still critical for maintaining trust in application isolation models.
Mitigation strategies focus on applying the provided software updates which address these memory integrity issues by improving how copy-on-write pages are handled and validated. Administrators should ensure that all devices running iOS 26.7.2, iPadOS 26.7.2, iOS 27.2, iPadOS 27.2, macOS Golden Gate 27.2, macOS Sequoia 15.8.2, macOS Tahoe 26.7.2, tvOS 27.2, visionOS 27.2, and watchOS 27.2 are updated to the latest available versions. For developers, it is crucial to adhere strictly to memory management guidelines provided by Apple, avoiding direct manipulation of low-level memory structures unless absolutely necessary and using high-level APIs that enforce proper isolation. Regular security audits and static analysis tools can help identify potential misuse of copy-on-write semantics in custom codebases before deployment.