CVE-2026-65338 in iOS
Summary
by MITRE • 08/18/2026
The issue was addressed with improved memory handling. This issue is fixed in iOS 18.7.10 and iPadOS 18.7.10, iOS 26.6.1 and iPadOS 26.6.1, macOS Tahoe 26.6.2. Processing maliciously crafted web content may lead to an unexpected Safari crash.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/18/2026
The vulnerability described involves a memory handling flaw within the WebKit rendering engine used by Apple's Safari browser on iOS and iPadOS devices. This specific issue was resolved through improved memory management protocols, ensuring that resources are allocated and deallocated correctly during the processing of web content. The fix is included in subsequent software updates for these platforms, specifically targeting versions such as iOS 18.7.10, iPadOS 18.7.10, iOS 26.6.1, iPadOS 26.6.1, and macOS Tahoe 26.6.2. The core technical flaw relates to improper memory handling, which is a category of defects often associated with CWE-401 or similar memory corruption vulnerabilities depending on the exact nature of the mismanagement.
When users encounter maliciously crafted web content designed to exploit this weakness, the immediate operational impact is an unexpected crash of the Safari application. This denial-of-service condition disrupts normal user activity and can lead to data loss if unsaved work is present in open tabs or forms. While the primary manifestation described here is a crash rather than arbitrary code execution, memory handling errors frequently serve as precursors to more severe security breaches such as remote code execution if exploited with additional techniques like heap spraying or specific payload construction. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1496, which covers Resource Hijacking via denial of service, although the primary concern remains application stability and availability rather than computational resource theft.
To mitigate this risk, users must ensure their devices are updated to the specified patched versions where the memory handling improvements have been implemented. System administrators managing enterprise environments should verify that all iOS and iPadOS endpoints comply with these version requirements through mobile device management solutions. Additionally, while software updates provide the definitive fix, employing browser security features such as content blocking extensions or restricting access to untrusted web sources can reduce exposure to maliciously crafted pages until patches are fully deployed across an organization's fleet of devices.