CVE-2026-112630 in iOS
Summary
by MITRE • 10/26/2026
An uninitialized memory issue was addressed with improved memory handling. 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 image may result in disclosure of process memory.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/27/2026
The vulnerability described involves an uninitialized memory issue within the image processing subsystems of Apple operating systems including iOS, iPadOS, and various versions of macOS such as Sequoia, Tahoe, and Golden Gate. This type of flaw typically arises when a software component allocates or references a block of memory but fails to properly initialize its contents before use. In the context of image parsing, this often occurs during the allocation of buffers for temporary storage of pixel data, metadata, or intermediate processing states. When these memory regions are not zeroed out or explicitly set to safe default values prior to being read by subsequent logic, they may retain residual data from previous operations performed within the same process space. This creates a condition where sensitive information previously held in that memory location can be inadvertently exposed if the application reads from it without first overwriting those contents with valid, sanitized data derived solely from the input image file.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant because it allows for potential disclosure of process memory to an attacker who can supply maliciously crafted images. By carefully constructing an image that triggers specific code paths within the vulnerable component, an adversary might be able to read uninitialized portions of the application's heap or stack. This could lead to the leakage of cryptographic keys, authentication tokens, session identifiers, or other sensitive data currently residing in memory at the time of processing. Such information disclosure vulnerabilities are particularly dangerous because they do not require code execution privileges on the target system; instead, they rely on social engineering or remote delivery mechanisms that trick a user into opening a malicious file within an application like Photos, Safari, or Mail. The severity is further compounded by the fact that image parsers run with varying levels of privilege depending on the context, potentially exposing data from higher-privilege processes if the vulnerability exists in system-level services handling media files.
From a classification perspective, this issue aligns closely with CWE-908, which denotes Use of Uninitialized Resource, and more specifically CWE-457, which refers to the use of an uninitialized variable. In terms of attack vectors, it falls under ATT&CK technique T1005, Data from Local System, where adversaries seek to collect data directly from local sources without installing malware or exploiting remote code execution flaws. The exploitation path generally involves crafting a malformed image file that exploits specific edge cases in the parsing logic, such as unusual dimensions, unsupported color profiles, or corrupted headers that cause the parser to skip initialization steps for performance reasons or due to logical errors. This makes detection difficult through standard signature-based methods since the exploit relies on memory state rather than obvious structural anomalies alone.
Mitigation strategies primarily involve applying the provided software updates which address these issues in iOS 26.7.2, iPadOS 26.7.2, iOS 27.2, iPadOS 27.2, macOS Golden Gate 27.2, macOS Sequoia 15.8.2, and macOS Tahoe 26.7.2. These updates likely include fixes that ensure all memory buffers are explicitly initialized before being read or processed by the image handling routines. For organizations managing large fleets of devices, ensuring timely patch deployment is critical to closing this information disclosure window. Additionally, users should exercise caution when opening image files from untrusted sources and consider enabling sandboxing features where available to limit the potential blast radius if an exploit attempt occurs. Developers integrating similar parsing libraries into custom applications should audit their memory management practices, specifically ensuring that all allocated buffers are cleared or initialized before use, thereby preventing residual data leakage in future implementations.