CVE-2026-112634 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 image may lead to unexpected app termination.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/27/2026
The vulnerability described involves an out-of-bounds read condition within the image processing subsystem of Apple's operating systems, including iOS, iPadOS, macOS, and visionOS. This type of flaw typically occurs when software accesses memory locations that lie outside the intended buffer boundaries during the parsing or rendering of a maliciously crafted image file. The root cause is insufficient validation of input data dimensions or internal state variables before accessing associated memory buffers. When an attacker provides specially constructed image data with malformed headers, corrupted metadata, or unexpected structural elements, the application may attempt to read from invalid memory addresses. This behavior violates fundamental principles of safe memory management and can lead to unpredictable system states.
From a technical perspective, this issue aligns with CWE-125, which defines out-of-bounds read vulnerabilities where software reads data past the end or before the beginning of the intended buffer. In the context of image processing engines, such as those handling JPEG, PNG, or HEIC formats, parsers often allocate buffers based on declared dimensions in file headers. If these declarations are falsified by an attacker to exceed actual allocated memory sizes, the parser will attempt to retrieve pixel data from unallocated regions. This can result in information disclosure if sensitive data residing adjacent to the buffer is leaked into the application's output stream or log files. Alternatively, it may cause immediate termination of the affected process due to segmentation faults or access violations triggered by the operating system’s memory protection mechanisms.
The operational impact centers on denial-of-service conditions and potential security breaches through information leakage. While Apple notes that processing such malicious images leads to unexpected app termination, indicating a stable failure mode rather than arbitrary code execution in this specific instance, the risk remains significant for applications relying heavily on image rendering services. Users interacting with untrusted sources of imagery face the possibility of application crashes, which disrupts workflow and degrades user experience. Furthermore, if the out-of-bounds read exposes internal memory contents containing cryptographic keys, session tokens, or other sensitive information, it could facilitate further exploitation attempts against the host system.
Mitigation strategies primarily involve applying the provided software updates to 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, and visionOS 27.2. These updates incorporate improved bounds checking logic within the image processing libraries to ensure that all memory accesses remain strictly within allocated limits regardless of input anomalies. For developers integrating these systems into custom applications, it is advisable to implement additional defensive programming practices such as validating file signatures before parsing, limiting maximum allowable dimensions for processed images, and utilizing sandboxing techniques to isolate potentially untrusted media files from critical system processes.
In terms of threat modeling, this vulnerability maps to ATT&CK technique T1059, Command and Scripting Interpreter, if the crash is leveraged as part of a larger exploit chain leading to code execution via subsequent vulnerabilities like heap corruption or use-after-free conditions often found in complex parsers. However, based on current disclosures focusing solely on termination, it represents a lower-tier risk primarily affecting availability rather than confidentiality or integrity directly. Organizations should prioritize patching endpoints running affected versions and monitor for anomalous behavior related to image processing services that might indicate attempted exploitation of this flaw before patches are applied. Regular security audits and static code analysis tools configured to detect CWE-125 patterns can help prevent similar issues in future software releases by enforcing strict boundary checks during development phases.