CVE-2026-65347 in iOS
Summary
by MITRE • 08/18/2026
The issue was addressed with improved checks. This issue is fixed in iOS 26.6.1 and iPadOS 26.6.1, macOS Tahoe 26.6.2. Processing an image may lead to a denial-of-service.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/18/2026
A critical vulnerability has been identified within the image processing subsystem of Apple operating systems, specifically affecting iOS, iPadOS, and macOS environments. The core technical flaw resides in the handling of malformed or specially crafted image files during parsing operations. When an application attempts to process such images, the underlying code fails to adequately validate input parameters or manage memory allocation correctly. This deficiency allows for conditions that can exhaust system resources or trigger unhandled exceptions within the processing pipeline. The vulnerability is characterized by a lack of robust boundary checks and error handling mechanisms when interpreting complex image data structures, leading to unstable execution states.
The primary operational impact of this flaw is a denial-of-service condition. An attacker who can trick a user into opening a maliciously crafted image file could cause the associated application or system service responsible for rendering that image to crash unexpectedly. In mobile environments like iOS and iPadOS, this may result in the termination of critical background services if they are involved in automatic media processing, such as photo libraries or messaging applications. On macOS Tahoe, similar crashes can disrupt user workflows involving graphic design software, document viewers, or any application utilizing system-level image decoding frameworks. While the immediate effect is service disruption rather than arbitrary code execution, repeated exploitation could lead to significant productivity loss and potential instability in multi-process environments where one crashed component might affect others depending on their isolation levels.
This vulnerability aligns with CWE-20 Improper Input Validation and potentially CWE-400 Uncontrolled Resource Consumption if the flaw leads to memory leaks or infinite loops during parsing. From a threat modeling perspective, it falls under ATT&CK technique T1499 Endpoint Denial of Service, as it involves actions that degrade system availability without necessarily compromising confidentiality or integrity directly. The attack vector is typically local or requires user interaction, such as clicking on a link to download the malicious image or opening an attachment in an email client.
Apple has addressed this issue by implementing improved checks within the image processing libraries. These enhancements likely include stricter validation of image headers, bounds checking for buffer operations, and more resilient error handling routines that prevent crashes when encountering invalid data structures. The fix is available in iOS 26.6.1, iPadOS 26.6.1, and macOS Tahoe 26.6.2. Organizations should prioritize patching these operating systems to mitigate the risk of denial-of-service attacks via malicious media files. Users are advised to keep their devices updated to ensure they benefit from these security improvements. Additionally, implementing application sandboxing policies can help contain potential impacts if a vulnerability is exploited in an unpatched environment by limiting the privileges granted to applications handling user-supplied content.