Buffer overflow in Apple audio file processing across Apple platforms
Key facts
- Attack vector
- Local
- Privileges required
- Low
- User interaction
- None
- Attack complexity
- Low
- Impact type
- Code execution
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
- High · High · High
- Fix status
- Fixed
Attack profile from CVSS 3.1 · CISA ADP. Fix status from CNA. Impact type from CWE-120 and the CVSS impact.
Summary
Apple iOS and iPadOS before 26.7.2 and before 27.2, macOS before 26.7.2 and before 27.2, and tvOS, visionOS and watchOS before 27.2 are affected. A buffer overflow occurs because input is copied without a proper size check (CWE-120). A local user with low privileges can cause memory corruption by supplying a maliciously crafted audio file.
Written with Claude Haiku 5.5 from the sources below · 2026-11-03
Description from the CNA
A buffer overflow was addressed with improved size validation. This issue is fixed in iOS 26.7.2 and iPadOS 26.7.2, iOS 27.2 and iPadOS 27.2, macOS Golden Gate 27.2, macOS Tahoe 26.7.2, tvOS 27.2, visionOS 27.2, watchOS 27.2. Processing a maliciously crafted audio file may lead to memory corruption.
Why it matters now
SSVC decision points
CISA ADP · SSVC 2.0.3
- Exploitation
- None
- Automatable
- No
- Technical impact
- Total
The decision (Track, Attend, Act) also depends on your mission and well-being impact; see CISA's SSVC guide.
Affected products
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apple | iOS and iPadOS | before 26.7.2; before 27.2 | 26.7.2, 27.2 | Patch available | CNA |
| Apple | macOS | before 26.7.2; before 27.2 | 26.7.2, 27.2 | Patch available | CNA |
| Apple | tvOS | before 27.2 | 27.2 | Patch available | CNA |
| Apple | visionOS | before 27.2 | 27.2 | Patch available | CNA |
| Apple | watchOS | before 27.2 | 27.2 | Patch available | CNA |
- iOS and iPadOS VendorApple Affected before 26.7.2; before 27.2 Fixed in 26.7.2, 27.2 Patch available CNA
- macOS VendorApple Affected before 26.7.2; before 27.2 Fixed in 26.7.2, 27.2 Patch available CNA
- tvOS VendorApple Affected before 27.2 Fixed in 27.2 Patch available CNA
- visionOS VendorApple Affected before 27.2 Fixed in 27.2 Patch available CNA
- watchOS VendorApple Affected before 27.2 Fixed in 27.2 Patch available CNA
CPE configurations NVD · 6
| CPE | Versions | Role | Vendor |
|---|---|---|---|
| cpe:2.3:o:apple:ipados:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | before 26.7.2; 27.0 to before 27.2 | Vulnerable | Apple |
| cpe:2.3:o:apple:iphone_os:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | before 26.7.2; 27.0 to before 27.2 | Vulnerable | Apple |
| cpe:2.3:o:apple:macos:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | before 26.7.2; 27.0 to before 27.2 | Vulnerable | Apple |
| cpe:2.3:o:apple:tvos:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | before 27.2 | Vulnerable | Apple |
| cpe:2.3:o:apple:visionos:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | before 27.2 | Vulnerable | Apple |
| cpe:2.3:o:apple:watchos:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | before 27.2 | Vulnerable | Apple |
- cpe:2.3:o:apple:ipados:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions before 26.7.2; 27.0 to before 27.2 Vulnerable ·Apple
- cpe:2.3:o:apple:iphone_os:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions before 26.7.2; 27.0 to before 27.2 Vulnerable ·Apple
- cpe:2.3:o:apple:macos:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions before 26.7.2; 27.0 to before 27.2 Vulnerable ·Apple
- cpe:2.3:o:apple:tvos:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions before 27.2 Vulnerable ·Apple
- cpe:2.3:o:apple:visionos:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions before 27.2 Vulnerable ·Apple
- cpe:2.3:o:apple:watchos:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions before 27.2 Vulnerable ·Apple
Remediation
Fixed versions are iOS 26.7.2 and iPadOS 26.7.2, iOS 27.2 and iPadOS 27.2, macOS Tahoe 26.7.2, macOS Golden Gate 27.2, tvOS 27.2, visionOS 27.2 and watchOS 27.2.
Written with Claude Haiku 5.5 from the sources below · 2026-11-03
- Fix · CNA iOS and iPadOS (Apple) Fixed in 26.7.2, 27.2
- Fix · CNA macOS (Apple) Fixed in 26.7.2, 27.2
- Fix · CNA tvOS (Apple) Fixed in 27.2
- Fix · CNA visionOS (Apple) Fixed in 27.2
- Fix · CNA watchOS (Apple) Fixed in 27.2
Fixed in the same release
Records fixed by the same vendor advisory or release, as the CNA lists them.
- Release ·
Apple visionOS 27.2
124 records Highest priority Priority MEDIUM 34 MEDIUM, 90 LOW
Other records, highest priority first
- TI-2026-80879 Apple iOS, macOS and visionOS flaw allows WebContent sandbox escapePriority MEDIUM 51
- TI-2026-80671 Sandbox escape in Apple Safari and other Apple platformsPriority MEDIUM 50
- TI-2026-80785 Use-after-free in Apple iOS, iPadOS, macOS and other systemsPriority MEDIUM 48
- Release ·
Apple iOS and iPadOS 26.7.2, 27.2
118 records Highest priority Priority MEDIUM 28 MEDIUM, 90 LOW
Other records, highest priority first
- TI-2026-80879 Apple iOS, macOS and visionOS flaw allows WebContent sandbox escapePriority MEDIUM 51
- TI-2026-80785 Use-after-free in Apple iOS, iPadOS, macOS and other systemsPriority MEDIUM 48
- TI-2026-80867 Resource exhaustion in Apple iOS, iPadOS, macOS and visionOSPriority MEDIUM 41
Show 3 more groups
- Release ·
Apple tvOS 27.2
72 records Highest priority Priority MEDIUM 16 MEDIUM, 56 LOW
Other records, highest priority first
- TI-2026-80785 Use-after-free in Apple iOS, iPadOS, macOS and other systemsPriority MEDIUM 48
- TI-2026-80618 Memory corruption in Apple platforms via crafted video filePriority MEDIUM 42
- TI-2026-80853 Use-after-free in Apple Safari and iOS enables code executionPriority MEDIUM 41
- Release ·
Apple watchOS 27.2
61 records Highest priority Priority MEDIUM 15 MEDIUM, 46 LOW
Other records, highest priority first
- TI-2026-80785 Use-after-free in Apple iOS, iPadOS, macOS and other systemsPriority MEDIUM 48
- TI-2026-80618 Memory corruption in Apple platforms via crafted video filePriority MEDIUM 42
- TI-2026-80853 Use-after-free in Apple Safari and iOS enables code executionPriority MEDIUM 41
- Release ·
Apple macOS 26.7.2, 27.2
17 records Highest priority Priority MEDIUM 4 MEDIUM, 13 LOW
Other records, highest priority first
- TI-2026-80616 Memory handling flaw in Apple macOS lets apps crash the systemPriority MEDIUM 46
- TI-2026-80871 Improper input validation in Apple iOS, macOS, visionOS and watchOSPriority MEDIUM 40
- TI-2026-80649 Out-of-bounds read in Apple iOS, iPadOS and macOS causes system crashPriority MEDIUM 40
Timeline
- 2026-10-26 Threatist record created from CVE-2026-86972
- 2026-10-27 Alias added: GHSA-rm9f-v97j-7v5x
- 2026-11-03 CVSS score added · CISA ADP
- 2026-11-03 Weakness changed · CISA ADP
- 2026-11-03 CISA SSVC decision points changed
References
More Apple Ipados vulnerabilities
- TI-2025-28008 Out-of-bounds write in Apple iOS and iPadOS KEVCVSS 3.1CRITICAL 10.0
- TI-2025-22441 Apple iOS and iPadOS: An attacker with arbitrary read and write capability may be able to… KEVCVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.8
- TI-2025-22440 Memory corruption in Apple iOS and iPadOS KEVCVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.8
- TI-2025-17951 Out-of-bounds write in Apple Safari KEVCVSS 3.1CRITICAL 10.0
- TI-2025-17847 Use after free in Apple iOS and iPadOS KEVCVSS 3.1CRITICAL 10.0
- TI-2022-06854 Out-of-bounds write in Apple iOS and iPadOS KEVCVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.8
Sources
- CVE-2026-86972 · CVE Program
- CVE-2026-86972 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-rm9f-v97j-7v5x · GitHub Advisory Database · CC BY 4.0
This product uses the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD. Sources and licences