CVE-2026-112673 in iOS
Summary
by MITRE • 10/26/2026
A type confusion issue was addressed with improved state handling. This issue is fixed in Safari 27.2, iOS 26.7.2 and iPadOS 26.7.2, iOS 27.2 and iPadOS 27.2, macOS Golden Gate 27.2, visionOS 27.2. Processing maliciously crafted web content may lead to an unexpected process termination.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/27/2026
The vulnerability described involves a type confusion flaw within the Safari browser engine, specifically addressed through improved state handling mechanisms in recent updates for iOS, iPadOS, macOS, and visionOS platforms. Type confusion is a critical class of memory safety vulnerabilities where a program incorrectly assumes an object or variable belongs to one data type when it actually contains another. In the context of web browsers, this often occurs during JavaScript execution or DOM manipulation, where internal structures representing different types are mishandled due to improper state transitions or race conditions in memory management logic. The fix implemented by Apple focuses on tightening these state handling protocols to ensure that objects retain their intended type identity throughout their lifecycle within the rendering and scripting engines.
From a technical perspective, this flaw likely stems from insufficient validation checks when transitioning between different execution states or object representations. When maliciously crafted web content is processed, it may trigger specific code paths where the browser's internal state machine fails to correctly distinguish between expected and unexpected data types. This misidentification can lead to memory corruption, such as writing to an invalid memory address or interpreting binary data incorrectly. The immediate operational impact of this vulnerability is a denial of service condition, characterized by the unexpected termination of the affected process. While modern browser sandboxing architectures typically prevent remote code execution from simple crashes, the presence of type confusion remains significant because it can serve as a precursor for more severe exploits if combined with other vulnerabilities or specific exploitation techniques that leverage memory layout assumptions.
This vulnerability aligns closely with Common Weakness Enumeration (CWE) standards, specifically CWE-843 which defines access to incorrect data types, and potentially CWE-120 regarding buffer overflows if the type confusion leads to improper size calculations during memory operations. In terms of adversary tactics, this flaw could be leveraged within MITRE ATT&CK framework techniques related to initial exploitation via web browsers, particularly those involving client-side code execution or denial of service as a disruptive tactic. Attackers might craft malicious websites containing specially designed JavaScript objects or DOM elements that exploit the state handling deficiency to trigger the crash condition before attempting further exploitation steps in more complex scenarios where memory corruption is stabilized for arbitrary write primitives.
Mitigation strategies primarily rely on applying the provided software updates which patch these internal state management flaws. Users and administrators should ensure that Safari, iOS, iPadOS, macOS Golden Gate, and visionOS are updated to their latest versions as specified by Apple Security Updates. Beyond patching, defense-in-depth measures such as enabling automatic security update notifications can help reduce exposure windows. For developers creating web content, adhering strictly to standard ECMAScript specifications and avoiding complex or obfuscated type casting operations in JavaScript can minimize the risk of triggering similar issues in unpatched environments. Additionally, utilizing browser features like Content Security Policy (CSP) can restrict the execution of inline scripts and external resources, thereby reducing the attack surface available for exploiting such client-side vulnerabilities.