CVE-2026-116261 in libimobiledevice
Summary
by MITRE • 10/26/2026
A security vulnerability has been detected in libimobiledevice up to 1.4.0. Impacted is the function afc_file_open of the file src/afc.c of the component AFC File Handler. The manipulation of the argument bytes leads to out-of-bounds read. It is possible to initiate the attack remotely. The exploit has been disclosed publicly and may 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 libimobiledevice library, a widely adopted open-source software suite designed for communicating with Apple iOS devices via USB or network connections, contains a critical security flaw within its AFC (Apple File Conduit) component up to version 1.4.0. This vulnerability specifically resides in the afc_file_open function located in the src/afc.c source file. The AFC protocol is fundamental to many utilities that interact with iOS devices for tasks such as media transfer, backup restoration, and application management. Consequently, any software relying on this library inherits its security posture, making this flaw relevant to a broad ecosystem of developer tools and end-user applications.
The technical nature of the vulnerability is an out-of-bounds read triggered by improper validation or handling of the bytes argument passed to afc_file_open. In C programming, such errors typically occur when memory access operations exceed the allocated boundaries of a buffer due to missing bounds checks or incorrect arithmetic calculations involving input parameters. An attacker who can control the value of the bytes parameter can force the application to read from invalid memory locations. While out-of-bounds reads are often categorized as information disclosure vulnerabilities rather than direct code execution flaws, they remain severe because they allow an adversary to leak sensitive data residing in adjacent memory regions. This could include stack variables, heap metadata, or other process-sensitive information that aids further exploitation stages.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant due to the remote exploitability vector identified by researchers. Although libimobiledevice primarily operates over local USB connections, many implementations expose services via network interfaces or allow for automated processing of untrusted device descriptors and file requests. If an attacker can send a crafted AFC request containing maliciously sized byte arguments to a vulnerable service endpoint, they may trigger the memory violation remotely. This capability transforms what might otherwise be a local privilege escalation issue into a remote code execution risk if combined with other techniques such as information leaks that facilitate heap exploitation or stack pivoting. The public disclosure of working exploits further lowers the barrier for entry, enabling less sophisticated actors to leverage this flaw against unprotected systems.
From an industry standards perspective, this vulnerability aligns closely with CWE-125: Out-of-bounds Read and potentially CWE-787: Out-of-bounds Write if subsequent memory corruption occurs during exploitation attempts. In terms of the MITRE ATT&CK framework, this falls under Tactic 10: Collection or Discovery depending on whether the primary goal is data exfiltration via leaked memory contents or reconnaissance for further attacks. The lack of vendor response to early disclosure efforts highlights a common challenge in open-source security where maintainers may be overwhelmed or unresponsive, leaving downstream users and developers responsible for their own mitigation strategies until an official patch is released.
Mitigation strategies must focus on both immediate defensive measures and long-term architectural improvements. Organizations using libimobiledevice should immediately upgrade to version 1.4.1 or later if available, as this typically resolves known issues in the AFC handler. For environments where upgrading is not feasible, implementing strict input validation at the application layer before passing arguments to library functions can prevent triggering the flaw. Network segmentation and firewall rules restricting access to ports used by libimobiledevice services reduce the attack surface for remote exploitation attempts. Additionally, enabling Address Sanitizer (ASan) or similar memory error detection tools during development and testing phases helps identify such boundary violations early in the software lifecycle. Developers should also consider replacing vulnerable components with actively maintained alternatives if vendor support remains absent, ensuring that security updates are timely and reliable.