CVE-2026-84495 in iOS
Summary
by MITRE • 10/26/2026
A use-after-free issue was addressed with improved memory management. This issue is fixed in iOS 26.7.2 and iPadOS 26.7.2, iOS 27.2 and iPadOS 27.2, macOS Golden Gate 27.2, macOS Sequoia 15.8.2, macOS Tahoe 26.7.2, tvOS 27.2, visionOS 27.2, watchOS 27.2. An app may be able to cause unexpected system termination or write kernel memory.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/27/2026
The vulnerability in question is a use-after-free error that stems from improper management of dynamically allocated memory within the operating system's core components. In software engineering, a use-after-free condition occurs when a program continues to use a pointer after the memory it points to has been freed or deallocated. This typically happens due to logic errors where references to an object are not properly invalidated upon its destruction, leading to dangling pointers that still reference valid addresses in memory but no longer hold legitimate data ownership. When such a pointer is dereferenced, the application accesses memory contents that may have already been repurposed for other allocations or cleared entirely. This specific flaw was addressed through improved memory management protocols within Apple's operating systems, ensuring that references are properly nullified and lifecycle states are strictly enforced to prevent access to released resources.
From a technical perspective, this vulnerability aligns with Common Weakness Enumeration identifier CWE-416, which classifies use-after-free errors as critical logic flaws in resource handling. The operational impact of such a flaw is severe because it allows an attacker who can trigger the vulnerable code path within a local application to manipulate kernel memory or cause system instability. Specifically, by carefully crafting input that triggers the premature deallocation followed by subsequent access, an adversary could potentially achieve arbitrary code execution with kernel-level privileges. Alternatively, if the memory state cannot be controlled precisely enough for exploitation, the result is often a denial of service manifested as unexpected system termination or application crashes. This dual nature makes it particularly dangerous in security-critical environments where availability and integrity are paramount.
The attack vector associated with this vulnerability typically involves local execution within an app that has access to the affected subsystems. According to MITRE ATT&CK framework classifications, this behavior corresponds to techniques involving memory corruption or privilege escalation via kernel exploitation. An attacker would need to convince a user to run malicious code or exploit a bug in a legitimate application to trigger the use-after-free condition. Once triggered, the ability to write to kernel memory represents a significant breach of system boundaries, potentially allowing persistence, credential theft, or complete compromise of the device's security model. The inclusion of this fix across multiple platforms including iOS, iPadOS, macOS, tvOS, visionOS, and watchOS indicates that the underlying component is shared across Apple’s ecosystem, highlighting the systemic nature of the risk if left unpatched.
Mitigation strategies primarily rely on timely software updates to ensure all devices are running versions where this memory management logic has been corrected. For iOS and iPadOS, version 26.7.2 or later, as well as 27.2 or later, contain the necessary patches. Similarly, macOS users should update to Golden Gate 27.2, Sequoia 15.8.2, or Tahoe 26.7.2 and beyond. Mobile operating systems like tvOS, visionOS, and watchOS require version 27.2 or higher for protection. Beyond patching, developers implementing custom software should adhere to strict memory safety practices, such as using smart pointers in C++ environments or leveraging garbage-collected languages where possible, to prevent dangling references from ever forming. Security monitoring tools can also be configured to detect anomalous kernel memory writes or unexpected process terminations that might indicate exploitation attempts of this class of vulnerability.