---
id: "CVE-2019-8605"
kind: "vulnerability"
aliases: ["CVE-2019-8605"]
title: "A use after free issue was addressed with improved memory management"
severity: "critical"
cvss: 9.3
epss: 0.17609
exploited: true
status: "open"
category: "vendor"
products: [{"name": "Apple Multiple Products", "fixed": [], "affected": "", "ecosystem": "vendor"}, {"name": "apple iphone os", "fixed": ["12.3"], "affected": "< 12.3", "ecosystem": "vendor"}, {"name": "apple mac os x", "fixed": ["10.14.5"], "affected": "< 10.14.5", "ecosystem": "vendor"}, {"name": "apple tvos", "fixed": ["12.3"], "affected": "< 12.3", "ecosystem": "vendor"}, {"name": "apple watchos", "fixed": ["5.2.1"], "affected": "< 5.2.1", "ecosystem": "vendor"}]
ecosystems: ["vendor"]
tags: ["apple-devices", "exploited", "ios", "macos", "tvos", "vendor", "watchos"]
not_affected_if: ["fully-patched-devices"]
published_at: "2019-12-18T18:15:28+00:00"
first_seen_at: "2026-10-23T19:11:52+00:00"
updated_at: "2026-10-23T22:29:04+00:00"
sources: [{"source": "kev", "url": "https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?search_api_fulltext=CVE-2019-8605", "first_seen_at": "2026-10-23T19:11:52+00:00"}, {"source": "epss", "url": "https://api.first.org/data/v1/epss?cve=CVE-2019-8605", "first_seen_at": "2026-10-23T19:13:45+00:00"}, {"source": "nvd", "url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2019-8605", "first_seen_at": "2026-10-23T22:29:04+00:00"}]
---

# A use after free issue was addressed with improved memory management

A use-after-free bug in Apple iOS, macOS, tvOS and watchOS lets a malicious app run code with system privileges. It is listed in CISA's known-exploited catalog, so attacks have been seen in the wild.

_Summary, check and fix written by a model from the sources; labelled as such._

## Affected

- vendor:Apple Multiple Products affected ? fixed ?
- vendor:apple iphone os affected < 12.3 fixed 12.3
- vendor:apple mac os x affected < 10.14.5 fixed 10.14.5
- vendor:apple tvos affected < 12.3 fixed 12.3
- vendor:apple watchos affected < 5.2.1 fixed 5.2.1

## Fix

Apply the Apple updates for the affected iOS, macOS, tvOS and watchOS versions per vendor instructions; the specific fixed versions are not in the sources.

## Timeline

- 2026-10-23T19:11:52+00:00 kev https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?search_api_fulltext=CVE-2019-8605
- 2026-10-23T19:13:45+00:00 epss https://api.first.org/data/v1/epss?cve=CVE-2019-8605
- 2026-10-23T22:29:04+00:00 nvd https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2019-8605

## From the sources

A use after free issue was addressed with improved memory management. This issue is fixed in iOS 12.3, macOS Mojave 10.14.5, tvOS 12.3, watchOS 5.2.1. A malicious application may be able to execute arbitrary code with system privileges.

---

_Free to read at a human pace. An API with keys and an MCP server are in preparation; early access: hello@infrastack.ai_