CVE-2026-64788 in iOS
Summary
by MITRE • 08/17/2026
The issue was addressed with improved memory handling. This issue is fixed in iOS 26.6.1 and iPadOS 26.6.1, macOS Tahoe 26.6.2. Processing maliciously crafted web content may lead to memory corruption.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/18/2026
This vulnerability represents a critical flaw within the core processing engine of Apple's operating systems, specifically affecting iOS, iPadOS, and macOS Tahoe. The root cause lies in improper memory handling during the parsing and execution of web content. When the system processes maliciously crafted HTML, JavaScript, or other web technologies embedded in a webpage or application, it fails to correctly manage allocated memory buffers. This deficiency allows an attacker who controls the input data to write beyond the boundaries of intended memory regions, leading to heap corruption or stack overflow conditions that destabilize the process execution environment.
The operational impact of this flaw is severe due to its potential for remote code execution. By exploiting the memory corruption vulnerability through a specially crafted website hosted on a malicious server, an attacker can potentially execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the affected application or system service. This could allow the compromise of user data, installation of malware, or further lateral movement within a network if the compromised device is connected to sensitive infrastructure. The risk is particularly high because web content processing occurs frequently during normal browsing activities, making it an attractive attack vector for drive-by download style attacks where no explicit user interaction beyond visiting a page is required.
From a classification perspective, this issue aligns with CWE-120 Buffer Copy without Checking Size of Input and CWE-787 Out-of-bounds Write in the Common Weakness Enumeration framework. These categories highlight the fundamental failure to validate input lengths against buffer capacities before performing memory operations. In terms of adversary tactics, exploitation of such vulnerabilities often maps to MITRE ATT&CK techniques related to initial access via spearphishing links or drive-by compromise, followed by execution and potential privilege escalation depending on the context in which the web content is rendered.
Mitigation strategies primarily rely on timely software updates as Apple has addressed this issue through improved memory handling mechanisms in iOS 26.6.1, iPadOS 26.6.1, and macOS Tahoe 26.6.2. Organizations should ensure that all endpoints are patched to these versions or later to eliminate the vulnerability at its source. Additionally, users should exercise caution when visiting unfamiliar websites or clicking on links from untrusted sources, as defense-in-depth measures like browser sandboxing provide only partial protection against sophisticated memory corruption exploits. Implementing strict content security policies and keeping web browsers updated further reduces the attack surface by limiting the capabilities of scripts executed within the rendering environment.