Attack ChainAIDerived
Hypothetical attack flow derived from CVE metadata – not a confirmed exploit chain
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AccessInstall malicious app
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DeliveryExecute memory access routine
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ExploitExploit improper bounds checking
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ExecutionRead kernel memory regions
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ImpactExfiltrate sensitive data
Vulnerability Assessment
| Weakness |
CWE
OWASP Top 10:2025
A01:2025 - Broken Access Control
ASVS 5.0
V14 - Data Protection System info exposure prevention
|
| Exploitation Conditions | Requires installation and execution of a malicious application on the target device. Despite CVSS vector indicating AV:N/PR:N (network, unauthenticated), the description explicitly states 'an app may be able to disclose kernel memory,' confirming that local app installation is the actual prerequisite-a fundamental contradiction with the assigned network attack vector. The application does not require special entitlements, root privileges, or user interaction beyond initial installation (PR:N/UI:N once app context is achieved). No specific system configuration, non-default settings, or feature enablement is mentioned as required. Exploitation is limited by Apple's app installation mechanisms: on iOS/iPadOS, requires either App Store approval (bypassed through review evasion), enterprise certificates, or device jailbreaking; on macOS, Gatekeeper and notarization provide weaker barriers. The information disclosure is bounded by kernel memory layout randomization and the app's ability to target specific memory regions, though repeated exploitation could overcome ASLR. Platform-specific limitations: watchOS and tvOS have more restricted app ecosystems, reducing practical attack surface despite technical vulnerability. |
| Impact | The CVSS score of 7.5 with vector AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N suggests high severity through remote unauthenticated exploitation with low complexity. However, multiple signals indicate substantially lower real-world risk than the raw score implies. The EPSS probability of 0.02% (7th percentile) reflects minimal observed exploitation interest despite apparent ease of exploitation. Critical contradictions exist in the data: the CVSS vector specifies network attack vector (AV:N) requiring no privileges (PR:N), yet the description states 'an app may be able to disclose kernel memory,' implying local app installation is the actual prerequisite-a fundamental inconsistency suggesting the CVSS vector may not accurately reflect the true attack scenario. If app installation is required, the realistic attack vector is local (AV:L), not network, dramatically reducing practical risk. The vulnerability provides only confidentiality impact (C:H/I:N/A:N)-information disclosure without system compromise. SSVC factors: exploitation status is public (vulnerability disclosed), automatable is yes (if truly network-based), technical impact is partial (data exposure only). Primary concern is targeted attacks against high-value devices where kernel memory could contain encryption keys or authentication tokens. The absence of KEV listing and extremely low EPSS despite public disclosure for several weeks strongly suggests this is either difficult to exploit in practice or limited by undisclosed prerequisites, making it lower priority than the CVSS score alone indicates. |
| Exploit ScenarioDerived | An attacker develops a malicious application and distributes it through app stores or side-loading mechanisms. Once installed on a vulnerable Apple device, the app exploits the memory handling flaw to read arbitrary kernel memory without requiring elevated privileges. The attacker extracts sensitive information such as encryption keys, authentication tokens, or memory addresses from other processes, which could enable further attacks like bypassing security mitigations or decrypting user data. No public exploit code identified at time of analysis. |
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Alert meAnalysisAIv1 – May 14, 2026
Kernel memory disclosure vulnerability affects all major Apple operating systems through improper memory handling. Malicious apps can read sensitive kernel memory contents remotely without authentication (CVSS 7.5, AV:N). Apple has released patches across iOS/iPadOS (versions 18.7.9 and 26.5), macOS (Sequoia 15.7.7, Sonoma 14.8.7, Tahoe 26.5), tvOS 26.5, visionOS 26.5, and watchOS 26.5. Despite the network attack vector, EPSS score remains very low at 0.02% (7th percentile), suggesting limited real-world exploitation probability. No active exploitation confirmed (not in CISA KEV), and no public exploit code identified at time of analysis.
RemediationAI
Vendor-released patches are available for all affected platforms. iOS and iPadOS users should update to version 18.7.9 or 26.5 (https://support.apple.com/en-us/127110, 127115). macOS users should upgrade to Sonoma 14.8.7, Sequoia 15.7.7, or Tahoe 26.5 depending on their major version (https://support.apple.com/en-us/127116, 127117, 127118). tvOS, visionOS, and watchOS users should update to version 26.5 (https://support.apple.com/en-us/127119, 127120, 127111). If immediate patching is not feasible, restrict installation of untrusted applications through Mobile Device Management (MDM) policies or screen time restrictions, though this provides incomplete protection if the vulnerability is truly network-exploitable as CVSS indicates. For enterprise environments, isolate vulnerable devices from untrusted networks and implement application allowlisting until patches can be deployed-note this increases operational overhead and may break legitimate workflows. Given the information disclosure nature (no integrity or availability impact), compensating controls should focus on limiting access to sensitive data processed on vulnerable devices rather than attempting to prevent the vulnerability itself.
Affected VersionsENISA
Affected Packages
Source: OSV (Open Source Vulnerabilities)
Affects your stack
Affects 5 packages in euvd
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Technical ContextAI · show details
This is a CWE-497 (Exposure of Sensitive System Information to an Unauthorized Control Sphere) vulnerability rooted in improper memory management at the kernel level. The flaw exists in the core memory handling routines shared across Apple's unified operating system architecture (Darwin kernel base). When applications interact with kernel memory through specific system calls or frameworks, insufficient bounds checking or sanitization allows reading beyond allocated buffers, exposing arbitrary kernel memory contents. The CVSS vector AV:N indicates the vulnerability can be triggered through network-facing application interfaces, not requiring direct local code execution. Apple's fix involves improved memory validation and boundary enforcement in kernel memory operations, preventing out-of-bounds reads that could leak sensitive data like cryptographic keys, memory addresses (defeating ASLR), or other process data residing in kernel space.
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Severity by source
AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N
Primary rating from Vendor (apple) · only source for this CVE.
CVSS VectorVendor: apple
Lifecycle Timeline
4DescriptionCVE.org
The issue was addressed with improved memory handling. This issue is fixed in iOS 18.7.9 and iPadOS 18.7.9, iOS 26.5 and iPadOS 26.5, macOS Sequoia 15.7.7, macOS Sonoma 14.8.7, macOS Tahoe 26.5, tvOS 26.5, visionOS 26.5, watchOS 26.5. An app may be able to disclose kernel memory.
Executive ViewAI
CVE-2026-43654 is a high-severity kernel memory disclosure vulnerability affecting Apple's entire operating system ecosystem (iOS, macOS, tvOS, visionOS, watchOS) that allows unauthenticated remote attackers to read sensitive kernel memory through malicious applications. While the CVSS score is 7.5, the extremely low EPSS score (0.02%) and absence of public exploits suggest this remains a theoretical risk; however, the network attack vector and widespread platform impact warrant immediate patching to prevent potential data exfiltration at scale.
Apply vendor patch. Until patching is complete, implement network segmentation to restrict unauthenticated remote access to Apple devices; disable untrusted app installation on production systems; monitor for unauthorized kernel memory access attempts via endpoint detection tools.
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
Information disclosure occurs when an application unintentionally exposes sensitive data that aids attackers in reconnaissance or directly compromises security.
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EUVD-2026-29300
GHSA-qgc2-9f9f-gp28
NVD
CVE.org
EPSS
Vulnrichment
VulDB
Exploit-DB