CVE-2026-112646 in iOS
Summary
by MITRE • 10/26/2026
An out-of-bounds write issue 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, visionOS 27.2. An app may be able to cause unexpected system termination or corrupt process memory.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/27/2026
The vulnerability described constitutes a critical out-of-bounds write flaw within the core operating systems of Apple devices, specifically affecting iOS and iPadOS versions prior to 26.7.2 as well as iOS and iPadOS version 27.2, along with visionOS 27.2. This type of memory corruption error occurs when a software application writes data beyond the boundaries of an allocated buffer in system memory. Such flaws typically arise from insufficient validation of input parameters or improper handling of array indices during runtime operations. The root cause lies in the failure to enforce strict bounds checking, allowing maliciously crafted inputs to overwrite adjacent memory locations that are not intended for modification by the executing process.
From a technical perspective, this vulnerability aligns with Common Weakness Enumeration identifier CWE-787, which classifies out-of-bounds writes as a severe category of memory safety violations. Unlike read-based vulnerabilities that might only lead to information disclosure, write operations can fundamentally alter the state of the system or the executing process. When an application triggers this flaw, it gains the ability to manipulate arbitrary memory addresses within the kernel space or other privileged processes if the vulnerability exists in a high-privilege context. Even when confined to user-space applications, the corruption can destabilize the immediate environment by overwriting critical data structures such as function pointers, object headers, or control flow metadata.
The operational impact of this flaw is significant and multifaceted. As noted in the advisory, an attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability may cause unexpected system termination, resulting in a denial-of-service condition where the device becomes unresponsive or requires a reboot to restore functionality. More critically, if the memory corruption affects control flow mechanisms, it can lead to arbitrary code execution. By carefully crafting the payload to overwrite specific pointers with addresses pointing to shellcode or existing executable modules, an attacker could escalate privileges from a sandboxed application context to that of the system kernel. This transition would allow full compromise of the device, enabling access to sensitive user data, installation of persistent malware, and surveillance capabilities without user consent.
In terms of threat modeling, this vulnerability maps directly to MITRE ATT&CK technique T1203, which covers Exploitation for Client Execution, particularly when triggered by a malicious app or file opened by the user. It also relates to T1055, Process Injection, if the exploit involves injecting code into another process via memory corruption. The ability to corrupt process memory represents a fundamental breach of application isolation principles that are central to modern mobile operating system security architectures like Apple's sandboxing framework. Successful exploitation undermines these protections by breaking out of the confined execution environment through low-level memory manipulation rather than higher-level logic flaws.
Mitigation strategies primarily rely on the deployment of the provided software updates, which include improved bounds checking mechanisms designed to detect and prevent writes outside allocated buffer limits before they can cause harm. Developers should also adopt secure coding practices that emphasize rigorous input validation and use static analysis tools capable of identifying potential out-of-bounds access patterns during the development phase. Furthermore, enabling runtime security features such as Memory Corruption Mitigations (MCM) provided by Apple's toolchain can help detect these violations at execution time, although prevention through proper bounds checking remains the most effective defense against this class of vulnerabilities.