CVE-2026-65377 in iOS
Summary
by MITRE • 09/15/2026
A memory corruption issue was addressed with improved memory handling. This issue is fixed in iOS 26.7 and iPadOS 26.7, iOS 27 and iPadOS 27, macOS Golden Gate 27, macOS Sequoia 15.8, macOS Tahoe 26.7, tvOS 27, visionOS 27, watchOS 27. An app may be able to cause unexpected system termination.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/15/2026
The vulnerability described involves a memory corruption flaw within the operating systems of Apple devices, specifically affecting iOS, iPadOS, macOS, tvOS, visionOS, and watchOS versions listed in the advisory. Memory corruption issues generally arise when software improperly manages computer memory, leading to data being written outside the bounds of allocated buffers or accessing freed memory regions. In this specific instance, the root cause is attributed to improved memory handling mechanisms that were implemented as part of the security update. These improvements likely address scenarios where an application could trigger invalid memory operations, such as use-after-free errors, buffer overflows, or heap corruption, which are common vectors for exploitation in complex operating system environments like those developed by Apple.
From a technical perspective, this type of vulnerability falls under the category of CWE-120 Buffer Copy without Checking Size of Input and CWE-416 Use After Free, depending on the exact nature of the memory mishandling. The presence of such flaws allows an application to manipulate the state of system processes in unintended ways. When a malicious or compromised app triggers this flaw, it can corrupt critical data structures within the kernel or system services that manage resources and process isolation. This corruption disrupts the normal execution flow, leading to instability in the affected subsystems. The primary operational impact identified is unexpected system termination, which manifests as application crashes or potentially broader system instability if the corrupted memory affects core components rather than just user-space applications.
The security implications extend beyond simple denial of service through crashing. While the immediate symptom described is system termination, memory corruption vulnerabilities are frequently precursors to more severe exploits such as arbitrary code execution. If an attacker can precisely control the content written into the corrupted memory region, they may be able to overwrite function pointers or return addresses, thereby gaining the ability to execute malicious commands with the privileges of the compromised process. This aligns with ATT&CK technique T1055 Process Injection and potentially T1203 Exploitation for Client Execution if the vulnerability is triggered via a user-facing application that downloads or processes untrusted content. The fix provided in iOS 26.7, iPadOS 26.7, macOS Sequoia 15.8, and subsequent versions addresses these underlying memory management deficiencies by enforcing stricter bounds checking and ensuring proper lifecycle management of allocated memory blocks.
Mitigation strategies for users involve ensuring that all devices are updated to the latest patched versions mentioned in the advisory. Since this vulnerability can be triggered by an app, maintaining up-to-date software is crucial as it includes not only the fix but also enhanced security features like sandboxing improvements and runtime protections that make exploitation more difficult. For developers, reviewing code for proper memory allocation and deallocation practices is essential to prevent similar issues in future applications. Utilizing static analysis tools and dynamic testing frameworks can help identify potential memory corruption bugs before deployment. Additionally, adhering to secure coding guidelines such as those outlined by the OWASP Mobile Security Testing Guide helps in building resilient applications that are less susceptible to triggering system-level vulnerabilities through improper input handling or resource management.