CVE-2026-64718 in iOS
Summary
by MITRE • 07/28/2026
A use-after-free issue was addressed with improved memory management. This issue is fixed in Safari 26.6, iOS 26.6 and iPadOS 26.6, macOS Tahoe 26.6, tvOS 26.6, visionOS 26.6, watchOS 26.6. Processing maliciously crafted web content may lead to an unexpected Safari crash.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/28/2026
A critical use-after-free vulnerability has been identified and resolved through enhanced memory management protocols within Apple's Safari browser and associated operating systems. This security flaw represents a fundamental memory safety issue where freed memory blocks are still being referenced by the application, creating potential exploitation vectors for malicious actors. The vulnerability specifically affects Safari versions 26.6 across all supported platforms including iOS, iPadOS, macOS Tahoe, tvOS, visionOS, and watchOS, with the patch addressing improper memory deallocation that could be triggered through web content manipulation.
The technical nature of this use-after-free condition falls under CWE-416, which classifies memory management errors as a primary concern for application security. When Safari processes maliciously crafted web content, the browser's memory management system fails to properly track allocated memory blocks, allowing attackers to potentially execute arbitrary code by manipulating freed memory locations. This type of vulnerability typically occurs when developers release memory back to the system but continue to maintain references to that memory, creating a window where malicious data can be written to previously freed locations and subsequently executed.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple browser instability, presenting serious security risks for users who encounter compromised web content. While the immediate effect manifests as unexpected Safari crashes, the underlying memory corruption could enable more sophisticated attacks including privilege escalation, remote code execution, or information disclosure. Attackers could craft malicious websites or web applications that trigger the use-after-free condition when users browse to these sites, potentially leading to complete system compromise depending on the execution context and available privileges.
Mitigation strategies should focus on immediate deployment of the patched versions across all affected platforms, with particular attention to enterprise environments where Safari is widely used for web browsing and application access. System administrators should implement proactive monitoring for any signs of exploitation attempts and ensure that all user devices receive the security updates as soon as possible. The fix implemented through improved memory management demonstrates Apple's approach to addressing heap-based vulnerabilities through enhanced garbage collection mechanisms and stricter memory reference tracking, aligning with ATT&CK framework technique T1059.007 for command and script interpreter execution through browser-based attacks. Organizations should also consider implementing additional security measures such as web application firewalls, content filtering solutions, and user education to reduce exposure while waiting for full deployment of the security patches across all systems.