CVE-2026-84602 in iPadOS
Summary
by MITRE • 09/15/2026
A type confusion issue was addressed with improved checks. 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 is a type confusion flaw within the Apple operating systems ecosystem, specifically affecting iOS, iPadOS, macOS, tvOS, visionOS, and watchOS versions listed in the advisory. Type confusion vulnerabilities occur when software incorrectly handles objects or variables of different data types, leading to unintended behavior that can be exploited by attackers. In this case, an application may trigger a condition where the system misinterprets the type of a memory object or variable, resulting in unexpected operations being performed on data structures not intended for such treatment. This fundamental error in logic undermines the integrity and stability of the operating environment, as it allows code to execute in contexts that bypass normal security checks and assumptions about data types.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant due to its potential to cause system instability. Specifically, an app with local access can exploit this flaw to induce unexpected system termination. This manifests as a denial-of-service condition where the affected device crashes or reboots unexpectedly. While the primary consequence described is service disruption rather than arbitrary code execution, such instabilities can lead to data loss if unsaved work is present during a crash. Furthermore, in complex systems like macOS and iOS, repeated exploitation could potentially destabilize critical system services, creating opportunities for further attacks that rely on timing or state manipulation following a reboot or service restart. The ability of an app to trigger this condition highlights the importance of strict isolation boundaries between applications and core system components, which are compromised when type confusion allows improper memory access patterns.
From a technical perspective, this issue falls under the category of CWE-843: Access of Incorrect Type (Type Confusion). This weakness is often associated with CWE-120: Buffer Overflow if it leads to out-of-bounds writes or reads due to incorrect size calculations based on misidentified types. The fix implemented in iOS 26.7, iPadOS 26.7, and subsequent versions involves improved checks within the affected components. These enhancements likely include stricter validation of object headers, runtime type checking mechanisms, or bounds verification before operations are executed. By ensuring that data is processed only after its type has been correctly identified and validated against expected constraints, Apple mitigates the risk of executing instructions on misinterpreted memory structures. This aligns with secure coding practices recommended by industry standards to prevent logic errors from escalating into exploitable conditions.
In terms of threat modeling, this vulnerability can be mapped to MITRE ATT&CK techniques related to Denial of Service and potentially Defense Evasion if used in conjunction with other exploits to disrupt security monitoring or system availability. Although the immediate effect is termination, attackers might leverage such crashes as part of a larger attack chain, for instance, to bypass integrity checks that rely on continuous uptime or to trigger race conditions during recovery processes. The inclusion of this fix across multiple platforms underscores Apple's commitment to maintaining robust memory safety and logical consistency in its core operating system components. Users are advised to update their devices immediately to the patched versions listed to eliminate the risk of exploitation. Regular updates ensure that these critical security patches, which address fundamental logic flaws like type confusion, are applied before they can be weaponized by malicious actors seeking to disrupt service or potentially escalate privileges through subsequent vulnerabilities triggered by system instability.