Attack ChainAIDerived
Hypothetical attack flow derived from CVE metadata – not a confirmed exploit chain
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AccessDistribute malicious app via phishing/sideload
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DeliveryVictim installs and launches app
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ExploitApp triggers out-of-bounds write in kernel subsystem
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ExecutionKernel memory corruption overwrites control structure
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ImpactArbitrary code execution at kernel privilege level
Vulnerability Assessment
| Weakness |
CWE
ASVS 5.0
V15 - Secure Coding and Architecture Bounds checking, write limits
MITRE ATT&CK
2 techniques across 2 tactics: Execution, Privilege Escalation The technique list with ATT&CK links and the kill-chain view is part of the Basic plan and up. |
| Exploitation Conditions | Exploitation requires a malicious application to be installed and run on the target device - the attacker cannot exploit this remotely without first achieving code execution in user space via a separate vector. The victim's device must be running an unpatched version of iOS/iPadOS (prior to 18.7.9) or macOS Sonoma (prior to 14.8.7), macOS Sequoia (prior to 15.7.7), or macOS Tahoe (prior to 26.5). Limiting factors include: Apple's App Store review process restricts trivial malicious app distribution on iOS; macOS Gatekeeper and notarization requirements impose additional barriers; and SSVC Automatable: none confirms exploitation cannot be scripted at scale. No network-facing exploitation path is described in the vendor advisories. |
| Impact | CRITICAL INCONSISTENCY in the provided CVSS data warrants explicit flagging: the supplied vector CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:N is internally contradictory with the description. AV:N (Network) conflicts with 'an app may be able to execute arbitrary code with kernel privileges,' which describes a local app-based attack. Furthermore, S:U (Unchanged scope) conflicts with privilege escalation to kernel level, which constitutes a scope change (S:C), and C:L/I:L/A:N dramatically understates the impact of kernel code execution. The 5.4 Medium score appears significantly understated for this class of vulnerability. Independently assessed, this should score much higher. Against these issues: EPSS at 0.02% (5th percentile) and SSVC Exploitation: none align with no observed active exploitation, and Automatable: no reflects the need for a malicious app to be installed. KEV status is not listed. Real-world priority remains HIGH for consumer device fleets despite the misleading official CVSS, given the kernel-level impact if successfully exploited. |
| Exploit ScenarioDerived | An attacker distributes a malicious iOS or macOS application - via a phishing campaign, compromised developer certificate, or sideloading - that triggers the out-of-bounds write in a kernel subsystem when executed. The app overwrites adjacent kernel memory structures to redirect execution flow, achieving ring-0 code execution and bypassing all user-space security controls. No public exploit code has been identified at time of analysis, and SSVC assesses this as not automatable, meaning mass exploitation is unlikely without a targeted delivery mechanism. |
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Alert meAnalysisAIv1 – Jul 23, 2026
Out-of-bounds write in Apple iOS/iPadOS and macOS allows a malicious app to execute arbitrary code with kernel privileges, representing a local privilege escalation to the highest system level. Affected platforms include iOS and iPadOS prior to 18.7.9, macOS Sonoma prior to 14.8.7, macOS Sequoia prior to 15.7.7, and macOS Tahoe prior to 26.5. No public exploit code has been identified and CISA has not listed this in KEV, but kernel-level code execution represents severe potential impact if triggered.
RemediationAI
Vendor-released patches are available: update iOS and iPadOS to 18.7.9, macOS Sonoma to 14.8.7, macOS Sequoia to 15.7.7, or macOS Tahoe to 26.5 via standard Apple Software Update mechanisms. These updates are detailed in Apple's security advisories at https://support.apple.com/en-us/127111 through https://support.apple.com/en-us/127117. If immediate patching is not feasible, restrict device usage to trusted App Store applications only and avoid sideloading or installing provisioning profiles from untrusted sources, as exploitation requires a malicious app to run on the device. Enterprise MDM deployments should prioritize this update in their patch cadence given the kernel-level impact.
Affected VersionsENISA
Affected Packages
Source: OSV (Open Source Vulnerabilities)
Affects your stack
Affects 2 packages in euvd
Checking this CVE against your own stacks and servers is part of the Basic plan and up.
Technical ContextAI · show details
CWE-787 (Out-of-Bounds Write) is a memory safety flaw where a component writes data past the allocated buffer boundary, corrupting adjacent memory. On Apple platforms this class of bug frequently occurs in kernel extensions or XNU kernel subsystems. Exploitation enables an attacker-controlled app to overwrite kernel data structures, potentially hijacking control flow to gain ring-0 (kernel) code execution. Affected CPEs are cpe:2.3:a:apple:ios_and_ipados:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* and cpe:2.3:a:apple:macos:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*, spanning the iOS 18.x and macOS 14/15/26 release trains. Apple addressed the flaw with improved bounds checking, a standard mitigation for this CWE class.
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Severity by source
AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:N
Local app execution (AV:L, PR:L) triggers kernel code execution, constituting scope change (S:C) with full system impact (C:H/I:H/A:H).
Primary rating from Vendor (apple).
CVSS VectorVendor: apple
Lifecycle Timeline
4DescriptionCVE.org
An out-of-bounds write issue was addressed with improved bounds checking. This issue is fixed in iOS 18.7.9 and iPadOS 18.7.9, macOS Sequoia 15.7.7, macOS Sonoma 14.8.7, macOS Tahoe 26.5. An app may be able to execute arbitrary code with kernel privileges.
Threat Intelligence Overview
How this decision was reached
The engine reads each signal below and applies a fixed list of rules from top to bottom. The first rule that matches sets the recommended action – like a statement, every line is shown.
What every action level means
SSVC AssessmentENISA
Priority Score
Attack Technique
A buffer overflow occurs when a program writes more data to a memory buffer than it was allocated to hold, causing the excess data to spill into adjacent memory regions.
Memory corruption occurs when a program writes data beyond the boundaries of allocated memory regions or accesses memory in unintended ways, violating the integrity of the process's address space.
Remote Code Execution represents the critical moment when an attacker successfully runs arbitrary code on a target system without physical access.
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EUVD-2026-29215
GHSA-5xgr-7873-hpc7
NVD
CVE.org
EPSS
Vulnrichment
Exploit-DB