CVE-2026-116258 in libimobiledevice
Summary
by MITRE • 10/26/2026
A vulnerability was identified in libimobiledevice up to 1.4.0. This affects an unknown part of the file src/afc.c of the component AFC. Such manipulation leads to heap-based buffer overflow. The attack can be executed remotely. The exploit is publicly available and might be used. The vendor was contacted early about this disclosure but did not respond in any way.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/26/2026
The vulnerability identified within libimobiledevice versions up to 1.4.0 represents a critical security flaw located specifically within the AFC component, which handles Apple File Conduit protocol operations. This library serves as an open-source implementation of protocols used for communication between iOS devices and computers, facilitating file transfers and device management tasks. The specific defect resides in the src/afc.c source file, where improper handling of input data leads to a heap-based buffer overflow. Heap overflows are particularly dangerous because they allow attackers to corrupt memory structures that manage dynamic allocations, potentially leading to arbitrary code execution with the privileges of the affected process. This type of vulnerability is classified under CWE-122, which denotes a buffer copy without checking size limits, and often falls into the category of CWE-787 when it involves out-of-bounds writes on the heap.
The operational impact of this flaw is severe due to its remote exploitability. An attacker does not need physical access or prior authentication within certain contexts where libimobiledevice processes are running with elevated privileges, such as during automated device management or synchronization tasks initiated by trusted applications. By sending a specially crafted packet that triggers the buffer overflow condition in the AFC handler, an adversary can overwrite adjacent memory regions on the heap. This corruption can be leveraged to hijack control flow, execute arbitrary shellcode, or escalate privileges if the process is running as root or with administrative rights. The fact that public exploits are available significantly lowers the barrier for entry, allowing less sophisticated threat actors to utilize existing tools rather than developing new ones from scratch.
From a tactical perspective, this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1203, which covers Exploitation for Client Execution, as well as potential lateral movement vectors if the compromised host is part of a larger network infrastructure relying on these devices for management or data exchange. The lack of response from the vendor raises concerns about the maintenance status and security posture of older versions of libimobiledevice. Without official patches, users must rely on community-driven fixes or version upgrades to mitigate this risk. It is imperative that organizations utilizing libimobiledevice in their workflows assess whether they are running vulnerable versions and apply immediate compensating controls such as network segmentation to restrict access to the services exposing these libraries.
Mitigation strategies should prioritize upgrading to a patched version of libimobiledevice if one becomes available from trusted sources or community forks that have addressed this issue. In environments where an upgrade is not immediately feasible, implementing strict input validation at the application layer before data reaches the AFC component can help prevent exploitation. Additionally, deploying intrusion detection systems capable of identifying anomalous network traffic patterns associated with heap overflow attempts may provide early warning indicators. Security teams should also review access controls to ensure that processes using libimobiledevice operate under the principle of least privilege, thereby limiting the potential impact if an exploit is successfully executed. Regular audits of third-party dependencies and their vulnerability statuses are essential for maintaining a robust security posture in systems dependent on open-source libraries like this one.