CVE-2026-43778

9.8

Apple · iOS, iPadOS, macOS, tvOS, visionOS, watchOS

A use after free vulnerability in Apple operating systems allows an application to cause unexpected system termination or corrupt kernel memory.

Executive summary

A critical use after free vulnerability exists across multiple Apple operating systems that could allow an attacker to corrupt kernel memory or trigger system crashes.

Vulnerability

This is a use after free vulnerability caused by improper memory management, which can be triggered by an unauthenticated application to corrupt kernel memory.

Business impact

Successful exploitation of this vulnerability poses a severe risk to organizational security, as it allows for kernel memory corruption and potential system-level instability. Given the CVSS score of 9.8, this flaw is classified as critical, representing a high risk of total system compromise or denial of service that could disrupt business operations and expose sensitive device data.

Remediation

Immediate Action: Apply the vendor-supplied security updates to all affected Apple devices immediately to reach the patched versions listed in the metadata.

Proactive Monitoring: Monitor system logs for frequent, unexplained kernel panics or unexpected device reboots which may indicate attempts to exploit memory corruption flaws.

Compensating Controls: Ensure that mobile device management (MDM) policies restrict the installation of untrusted or unauthorized applications, as the vulnerability requires an application to be present on the system to trigger the flaw.

Exploitation status

Public Exploit Available: Unknown

Analyst recommendation

Due to the critical nature of this kernel-level vulnerability, organizations must prioritize the deployment of the latest Apple security patches across all managed devices. The ability for an application to corrupt kernel memory necessitates a swift response to prevent potential system-wide compromise or persistent instability.

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Sources