CVE-2026-112697 in Safari
Summary
by MITRE • 10/26/2026
A use-after-free issue was addressed with improved memory management. 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, tvOS 27.2, visionOS 27.2, watchOS 27.2. Processing maliciously crafted web content may lead to arbitrary code execution.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/27/2026
The vulnerability in question is a classic use-after-free error, which falls under the CWE-416 classification of improper interaction between multiple threads or processes due to incorrect memory management. This specific flaw was addressed through improved memory handling mechanisms within the Safari rendering engine and related web content processing subsystems across Apple's ecosystem. The issue arises when an object is freed from memory but a reference to that same memory location remains active, allowing subsequent operations to access deallocated data. In the context of web browsers like Safari, this often occurs during the parsing or execution of complex JavaScript code or HTML structures where dynamic allocation and deallocation are frequent. When maliciously crafted web content triggers these conditions, it can lead to a state where the application attempts to read from or write to memory that has already been released back to the system allocator.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe because use-after-free bugs provide attackers with significant control over program execution flow. By carefully crafting input data, an attacker can manipulate the contents of the freed memory block before it is reallocated for a different purpose. This manipulation allows the injection of arbitrary code or the modification of critical function pointers within the browser's process space. Consequently, processing such maliciously crafted web content may lead to arbitrary code execution with the privileges of the user running the application. This means that an attacker could potentially take full control of the affected device, install malware, steal sensitive data, or use the compromised system as part of a larger botnet. The risk is particularly acute in browser environments where users frequently visit untrusted websites, making this a high-priority target for remote code execution attacks.
This vulnerability affects multiple platforms including Safari 27.2, iOS 26.7.2 and iPadOS 26.7.2, as well as the newer iOS 27.2 and iPadOS 27.2 releases. It also impacts macOS Golden Gate 27.2, tvOS 27.2, visionOS 27.2, and watchOS 27.2. The widespread nature of this fix across Apple's operating systems highlights the critical importance of robust memory safety in modern software development. From a threat intelligence perspective, such vulnerabilities are often exploited using techniques aligned with MITRE ATT&CK tactics related to initial access and execution. Attackers typically deliver these exploits via phishing emails or compromised websites that host the malicious web content designed to trigger the use-after-free condition. The ability to execute code remotely makes this vulnerability particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where employees may inadvertently visit malicious sites while browsing for work-related information.
Mitigation strategies primarily involve applying the provided software updates immediately across all affected devices. For organizations, it is crucial to ensure that patch management processes are efficient and cover not just desktop systems but also mobile endpoints like iPhones, iPads, Apple Watches, and Vision Pro headsets. Additionally, implementing browser security features such as sandboxing can help limit the impact of a successful exploit by restricting what code executed within the browser process can access on the host system. Users should be educated about the risks of visiting untrusted websites and avoiding suspicious links in emails or messages. While technical controls are essential, user awareness remains a vital layer of defense against social engineering tactics that often precede such exploits. Regular security audits and penetration testing focused on web application vulnerabilities can also help identify similar memory management issues before they are exploited in the wild.