CVE-2026-65349 in iOS
Summary
by MITRE • 08/18/2026
An out-of-bounds read was addressed with improved input validation. This issue is fixed in iOS 26.6.1 and iPadOS 26.6.1, macOS Tahoe 26.6.2. An app may be able to cause unexpected system termination or read kernel memory.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/18/2026
The vulnerability described constitutes a critical out-of-bounds read condition within the operating system core components of iOS and iPadOS versions prior to 26.6.1, as well as macOS Tahoe prior to version 26.6.2. This flaw arises from insufficient validation of input parameters during specific kernel operations, allowing an application with local execution capabilities to access memory regions outside its designated boundaries. In the context of modern operating system architecture, particularly those utilizing a hybrid kernel design like Apple's XNU, such boundary violations represent a significant deviation from secure coding practices and expose fundamental weaknesses in how user-space requests are processed by privileged kernel routines.
From a technical perspective, an out-of-bounds read occurs when software reads data beyond the allocated buffer or memory segment intended for that operation. Unlike write operations which can lead to code execution through heap corruption, read vulnerabilities primarily facilitate information disclosure. However, because this specific flaw resides within the kernel space, the implications are far more severe than typical user-space leaks. The attacker does not merely access application-specific data but gains the ability to inspect arbitrary portions of kernel memory. This capability enables the extraction of sensitive security tokens, cryptographic keys, process identifiers, and other high-value targets that are essential for maintaining system integrity and confidentiality.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is twofold, encompassing both denial of service and unauthorized information disclosure. First, the act of reading invalid or protected memory addresses can trigger a kernel panic, resulting in an unexpected system termination. This effectively denies service to all users on the device by forcing a reboot, disrupting productivity and potentially causing data loss if unsaved work is present. Second, and more critically, the ability to read kernel memory allows for sophisticated privilege escalation attacks. By analyzing the contents of kernel structures, an attacker can map out security mechanisms such as Address Space Layout Randomization (ASLR) offsets or locate specific gadgets within kernel binaries that can be leveraged in return-oriented programming chains. This transforms a simple information leak into a pathway for gaining root-level access to the device, thereby compromising the entire trust boundary of the system.
In terms of industry-standard classification frameworks, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-125, which defines out-of-bounds read vulnerabilities where software reads past the end or beginning of an allocated buffer. Furthermore, within the MITRE ATT&CK framework for mobile platforms and enterprise environments, this behavior is indicative of techniques associated with Tactic TA0006 (Credential Access) under sub-techniques like T1539 (Steal Web Session Cookie) if applied to user data, or more broadly under information gathering methods that precede privilege escalation. The exploitation path typically involves a malicious application triggering the specific kernel routine via an API call with crafted arguments, placing it within the context of local code execution leading to elevation of privilege.
Mitigation for this vulnerability is strictly dependent on software updates provided by Apple. Administrators and users must ensure their devices are running iOS 26.6.1 or later, iPadOS 26.6.1 or later, and macOS Tahoe 26.6.2 or later. These versions contain the necessary patches that implement improved input validation logic within the affected kernel components. This fix likely involves rigorous bounds checking before memory access operations are executed, ensuring that any request for data retrieval is verified against valid memory ranges allocated to the calling process. Until these updates are applied, devices remain susceptible to both denial of service attacks and sophisticated privilege escalation attempts by malicious applications installed on the system or delivered via exploit kits targeting this specific flaw.