CVE-2026-84622 in iOS
Summary
by MITRE • 09/15/2026
A memory initialization 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 with root privileges may be able to read uninitialized kernel memory.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/15/2026
The disclosed vulnerability represents a critical failure in the operating system's memory management subsystem, specifically involving improper initialization of kernel-space data structures. In secure computing environments, particularly within macOS and iOS architectures that rely heavily on strict isolation between user space and kernel space, it is imperative that all allocated memory regions are zeroed out or explicitly initialized before being exposed to any process. The flaw described indicates a lapse in this protocol where the kernel allocates memory but fails to clear its contents prior to use or exposure. This oversight leaves residual data from previous allocations within those memory blocks, creating a potential information disclosure vector that can be exploited by processes operating with elevated privileges.
From a technical perspective, this issue falls under the category of Improper Initialization as defined in the Common Weakness Enumeration (CWE) standard, specifically aligning with CWE-457 which addresses the use of an uninitialized variable or memory location. The vulnerability allows an application running with root privileges to access kernel memory that has not been properly sanitized. While modern operating systems employ various mitigations such as Address Space Layout Randomization and hardware-enforced data execution prevention, these controls do not prevent a privileged process from reading raw memory contents if the software logic itself is flawed. An attacker leveraging this flaw could potentially extract sensitive information stored in those uninitialized blocks, which may include cryptographic keys, session tokens, or other confidential data previously held by different processes before their memory was reallocated to the vulnerable kernel component.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant due to the privilege level required for exploitation and the sensitivity of the data at risk. Although an attacker must already possess root privileges, which typically implies a high degree of system control, the ability to read uninitialized kernel memory expands the attack surface beyond standard administrative actions. It enables the extraction of stateful information that might not be accessible through normal API calls or file system interactions. This can facilitate further privilege escalation attacks if combined with other vulnerabilities, allow for the bypassing of security controls by revealing internal states, or lead to data leakage across different user sessions or applications running on the same device. In multi-tenant environments or devices used in enterprise settings where multiple users share administrative access, this flaw could compromise the confidentiality guarantees expected from the operating system's isolation mechanisms.
Industry frameworks such as MITRE ATT&CK classify this type of behavior under techniques related to Credential Access and System Information Discovery, specifically those involving memory scraping or direct kernel interaction. The exploitation of uninitialized memory is a classic technique used in advanced persistent threats to gather intelligence about the target environment without triggering traditional signature-based detection systems. Because the data read may contain fragments of previous operations, it can provide context that aids in crafting more sophisticated attacks against specific applications or system components running on the device.
To mitigate this risk, Apple has released updates for iOS 26.7 and iPadOS 26.7, as well as versions 27 of iOS, iPadOS, tvOS, visionOS, and watchOS. Additionally, macOS users must update to macOS Sequoia 15.8, macOS Golden Gate 27, or macOS Tahoe 26.7. These updates contain the necessary code changes to ensure that all kernel memory allocations are properly initialized before being used by system services. Administrators should prioritize applying these patches across all managed devices immediately to close this information disclosure channel. Furthermore, organizations should enforce strict policies regarding root access and monitor for unusual patterns of memory access or data exfiltration using endpoint detection and response tools capable of analyzing low-level system calls. Regular auditing of privileged application behavior can also help detect any attempts to exploit similar weaknesses in the future.