CVE-2026-84487 in iOS
Summary
by MITRE • 09/15/2026
An integer overflow was addressed with improved input validation. 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. Processing a maliciously crafted file may result in disclosure of process memory.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/15/2026
The vulnerability described involves an integer overflow condition that arises during the processing of specific input data, particularly when handling files with maliciously crafted structures. Integer overflows occur when an arithmetic operation results in a value that exceeds the maximum capacity of the allocated storage type for integers, leading to unexpected behavior such as buffer underflows or out-of-bounds writes. In this instance, the flaw was addressed by implementing improved input validation mechanisms designed to detect and reject inputs that could trigger these overflow conditions before they are processed further within the application logic. This remediation strategy ensures that potentially dangerous numerical values are identified early in the execution pipeline, thereby preventing the exploitation of the underlying memory management flaws.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant due to its potential for information disclosure. When an attacker successfully exploits the integer overflow by processing a specially crafted file, it can lead to the unauthorized reading or exposure of process memory contents. This type of attack falls under the category of CWE-190: Integer Overflow or Wraparound and often facilitates subsequent attacks such as CWE-416: Use After Free if the corrupted state leads to invalid pointer dereferences. The disclosure of process memory can reveal sensitive data including cryptographic keys, session tokens, user credentials, or other proprietary information stored within the application's address space. Such leaks compromise confidentiality and integrity principles central to cybersecurity frameworks like NIST SP 800-53.
From a threat modeling perspective using MITRE ATT&CK techniques, this vulnerability aligns with T1074: Data Staged or Local Data Dumping if it allows an attacker to extract data from the local system memory without direct access controls being bypassed through privilege escalation. It also relates to T1562: Impair Defenses because successful exploitation may disable security mechanisms intended to protect against such memory corruption issues. The ability to read arbitrary process memory represents a critical breach in isolation boundaries, especially on mobile and desktop operating systems where multiple applications run concurrently with varying levels of trust and sandboxing protections.
Mitigation strategies primarily involve the software updates provided by Apple across iOS 26.7, iPadOS 26.7, iOS 27, iPadOS 27, macOS Golden Gate 27, macOS Sequoia 15.8, macOS Tahoe 26.7, tvOS 27, visionOS 27, and watchOS 27. These updates incorporate the aforementioned input validation improvements which serve as a direct countermeasure to the identified flaw. Organizations and individual users should ensure that all devices running these platforms are updated to the latest patched versions to eliminate exposure to this specific attack vector. Additionally, developers integrating similar file processing logic into their own applications should adopt rigorous input sanitization practices, including range checking for numerical inputs and employing safe arithmetic libraries that detect overflows automatically. Regular security audits focusing on memory safety issues can further reduce the risk of such vulnerabilities in custom software solutions.