CVE-2026-113909 in iOS
Summary
by MITRE • 10/26/2026
A memory corruption issue was addressed with improved input validation. 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, visionOS 27.2. An attacker in physical proximity may be able to corrupt process memory.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/27/2026
The disclosed vulnerability represents a critical memory corruption flaw within the operating system core components of Apple devices, specifically affecting iOS, iPadOS, macOS, and visionOS platforms. This type of issue typically arises when software fails to properly validate or bounds-check data before processing it, leading to unintended side effects such as buffer overflows, use-after-free conditions, or heap corruption. In this specific instance, the root cause is attributed to insufficient input validation mechanisms that allow an attacker in physical proximity to manipulate memory structures beyond their intended boundaries. The presence of a physical proximity requirement suggests that the attack vector likely involves direct interaction with device interfaces such as USB ports, NFC readers, Bluetooth radios, or other local hardware components rather than remote network-based exploitation. This constraint significantly limits the scope of potential attackers but does not diminish the severity for users who may connect untrusted peripherals to their devices in public spaces like airports, cafes, or shared workspaces.
From a technical perspective, memory corruption vulnerabilities are among the most dangerous classes of security flaws because they can lead to arbitrary code execution with elevated privileges if exploited successfully. When an attacker corrupts process memory, they may be able to overwrite function pointers, return addresses, or critical data structures within kernel space or privileged system processes. This manipulation allows for control flow hijacking, where the attacker redirects program execution to malicious shellcode injected into the vulnerable process's address space. The impact of such a flaw extends beyond simple application crashes; it can result in full device compromise, enabling unauthorized access to sensitive user data including contacts, messages, photos, and financial information stored on the device. Furthermore, if the vulnerability exists within a privileged system service, an attacker could escalate privileges from a sandboxed app context to root or kernel level, effectively bypassing all built-in security mitigations like ASLR (Address Space Layout Randomization) and DEP/NX (Data Execution Prevention).
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe due to its potential for privilege escalation and data exfiltration. An attacker with physical access could potentially install persistent malware, spy on user activity through camera or microphone feeds, or use the compromised device as a pivot point to attack other devices on the same local network. The fact that multiple major operating system versions are affected indicates a systemic issue within shared codebases across Apple's ecosystem. This includes iOS and iPadOS which share significant architectural components with macOS and visionOS, suggesting that the flaw resides in a common framework or kernel extension utilized by all these platforms. Users relying on these devices for personal banking, corporate communications, or sensitive data storage are at heightened risk if they frequently connect to unknown charging stations or peripheral devices without proper security controls enabled.
To mitigate this risk, Apple has released patches in iOS 26.7.2 and iPadOS 26.7.2, as well as updates for macOS Golden Gate 27.2, visionOS 27.2, and earlier supported versions like iOS/iPadOS 27.2. Organizations and individual users must prioritize applying these security updates immediately to close the memory validation gap. In addition to patching, defensive measures include disabling unnecessary wireless interfaces such as Bluetooth and NFC when not in use, avoiding connection to public USB charging stations by using data blockers or power-only cables, and enabling lock screen passcodes with strong complexity requirements to prevent unauthorized physical access that could facilitate further exploitation attempts. Security awareness training should also emphasize the risks associated with connecting untrusted hardware peripherals to corporate-owned devices.
From a classification standpoint, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-120 Buffer Copy without Checking Size of Input and potentially CWE-787 Out-of-bounds Write depending on the specific memory manipulation technique employed. In terms of adversary tactics, it maps to MITRE ATT&CK techniques related to Local Privilege Escalation such as T1068 Exploitation for Privilege Escalation or T1203 Malicious Software Execution if shellcode is deployed. The physical proximity requirement places this within the context of Physical Interaction attacks found in frameworks like STRIDE, specifically under Tampering and Elevation of Privilege categories. Continuous monitoring for anomalous system behavior post-update can help detect any residual exploitation attempts that may have occurred before the patch was applied.