CVE-2026-65340 in iOS
Summary
by MITRE • 08/18/2026
This issue was addressed through improved state management. 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 critical flaw in the state management logic within Apple's WebKit engine, which powers the Safari browser across iOS, iPadOS, and macOS platforms. The core technical issue stems from improper handling of internal states when processing web content that has been maliciously crafted to exploit specific edge cases or race conditions. In complex web applications, browsers must maintain precise synchronization between various rendering engines, JavaScript execution contexts, and DOM structures. When this state management fails, the browser enters an inconsistent condition where memory references may become invalid or pointers point to incorrect locations in memory. This inconsistency triggers a fatal exception within the application's core processes, resulting in an immediate termination of the Safari process.
From a technical perspective, this type of flaw is typically categorized under CWE-416, Use After Free, or CWE-362, Concurrent Execution Using Shared Resource with Improper Synchronization, depending on whether the crash results from accessing freed memory or from race conditions in state transitions. The attack vector requires an attacker to host a specially crafted webpage containing malicious HTML, CSS, and JavaScript code designed to trigger the specific sequence of events that leads to the state corruption. When a user visits this page using Safari, the browser attempts to render the content but encounters the logical error during processing. Because the vulnerability causes a crash rather than arbitrary code execution in its current manifestation, it is primarily classified as a denial-of-service issue within the ATT&CK framework, specifically under T1499 Endpoint Denial of Service or potentially T1059 Command and Scripting Interpreter if further exploitation leads to script injection.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant for users who rely on Safari for daily browsing activities. A successful exploit results in an unexpected crash of the browser application, leading to a loss of productivity as open tabs are closed and session data may be lost. For enterprise environments or public kiosks running iOS, iPadOS, or macOS Tahoe, such crashes can disrupt critical workflows that depend on web-based applications. While the immediate effect is a denial of service, state corruption vulnerabilities in browsers often serve as stepping stones for more severe exploits. Attackers frequently use crashes to gather information about memory layouts through fuzzing techniques, which can later be leveraged to develop reliable exploitation chains leading to remote code execution or privilege escalation if additional weaknesses are present in the system.
Apple has addressed this issue by improving the robustness of state management mechanisms within WebKit. The fix likely involves adding stricter validation checks for internal states before processing web content, ensuring that transitions between different rendering modes do not leave the engine in an undefined state. It may also include enhanced memory safety features such as hardened allocator behaviors or improved bounds checking to prevent access to invalid memory regions during complex DOM manipulations. These improvements ensure that even if maliciously crafted content attempts to trigger a race condition or use-after-free scenario, the browser will handle the error gracefully without crashing.
To mitigate this risk, organizations and individual users must apply the provided software updates immediately. The vulnerability is fixed in iOS 18.7.10, iPadOS 18.7.10, iOS 26.6.1, iPadOS 26.6.1, and macOS Tahoe 26.6.2. Administrators should ensure that all devices within their network are updated to these versions or later through centralized management tools like Apple Business Manager or Mobile Device Management solutions. Additionally, users can reduce exposure by enabling features such as Intelligent Tracking Prevention in Safari, which limits the ability of third-party scripts to track activity and may inadvertently block some exploit vectors associated with complex web content. Regular security awareness training should also be conducted to educate users about the risks of visiting untrusted websites that might host maliciously crafted pages designed to trigger browser vulnerabilities.