{"id":"CVE-2026-86916","kind":"vulnerability","aliases":["CVE-2026-86916"],"related":[],"title":"Apple iOS and macOS kernel: use-after-free lets an app run kernel code","description":"A use after free issue was addressed with improved memory management. This issue is fixed in iOS 26.7 and iPadOS 26.7, iOS 27 and iPadOS 27, macOS Golden Gate 27, macOS Sequoia 15.8, macOS Tahoe 26.7.2. An app may be able to execute arbitrary code with kernel privileges.","summary":"A use-after-free flaw in the Apple kernel lets a malicious app execute arbitrary code with kernel privileges. Fixed releases are iOS 26.7, iPadOS 26.7, iOS 27, iPadOS 27, macOS Golden Gate 27, macOS Sequoia 15.8 and macOS Tahoe 26.7.2.","severity":"high","cvss":7.8,"epss":null,"exploited":false,"exploited_at":null,"products":[],"ecosystems":[],"tags":["apple-devices","infrastructure","ios","ipados","macos"],"not_affected_if":["already-patched"],"how_to_check":"- Check the iPhone or iPad under Settings > General > About for the OS version, and look for an earlier build than iOS 26.7 or iOS 27.\n- On a Mac, run `sw_vers -productVersion` and compare with `15.8` (Sequoia) or `26.7.2` (Tahoe).","fix":"- Update iPhone and iPad to iOS 26.7 or iPadOS 26.7, or to iOS 27 and iPadOS 27.\n- Update Mac to macOS Tahoe `26.7.2`, macOS Sequoia `15.8`, or macOS Golden Gate 27.","status":"open","published_at":"2026-10-26T21:20:28+00:00","first_seen_at":"2026-10-26T21:55:22+00:00","triaged_at":"2026-10-26T21:56:25+00:00","updated_at":"2026-10-26T21:56:25+00:00","category":"infrastructure","confidence":0.6,"triage":{"at":"2026-10-26T21:56:25Z","model":"claude-haiku-5-5","output":{"fix":"- Update iPhone and iPad to iOS 26.7 or iPadOS 26.7, or to iOS 27 and iPadOS 27.\n- Update Mac to macOS Tahoe `26.7.2`, macOS Sequoia `15.8`, or macOS Golden Gate 27.","reach":"local","title":"Apple iOS and macOS kernel: use-after-free lets an app run kernel code","impact":"high","summary":"A use-after-free flaw in the Apple kernel lets a malicious app execute arbitrary code with kernel privileges. Fixed releases are iOS 26.7, iPadOS 26.7, iOS 27, iPadOS 27, macOS Golden Gate 27, macOS Sequoia 15.8 and macOS Tahoe 26.7.2.","category":"infrastructure","nicknames":[],"who_cares":["ios","ipados","macos","apple-devices"],"confidence":0.6,"needs_auth":"unknown","worst_case":"App code runs with kernel privileges on the device.","analyst_note":"Sources give only the NVD record and the Apple-style fix note; check Apple's security release notes for the exact CVE entry and whether the flaw is reachable without user interaction.","how_to_check":"- Check the iPhone or iPad under Settings > General > About for the OS version, and look for an earlier build than iOS 26.7 or iOS 27.\n- On a Mac, run `sw_vers -productVersion` and compare with `15.8` (Sequoia) or `26.7.2` (Tahoe).","needs_analyst":true,"not_affected_if":["already-patched"],"who_is_affected":"Any Apple device running an OS build older than the listed fixed releases can be affected. The source describes the flaw as reachable by an app, so any device that runs third-party or untrusted apps is the main concern. Managed fleets that pin older OS versions should treat this as a priority. Devices already on the fixed releases are not affected.","user_interaction":"unknown","needs_special_setup":"unknown","severity_if_unknown":"high"},"cost_usd":0.000686,"input_tokens":3316,"output_tokens":709,"severity_before":"high"},"analyst_status":null,"analyst_note":null,"search":"'-2026':17A,20A '-86916':18A,21A '15.8':66B,103C '26.7':53B,55B,88C,91C '26.7.2':70B,106C '27':57B,59B,63B,93C,96C,100C 'abl':111C 'address':77C 'app':12A,42B,108C 'appl':1A,23B,37B 'apple-devic':22B 'arbitrari':44B,114C 'code':15A,45B,115C 'cve':16A,19A 'devic':24B 'execut':43B,113C 'fix':49B,85C 'flaw':34B 'free':9A,33B,74C 'gate':62B,99C 'golden':61B,98C 'improv':79C 'infrastructur':25B 'io':2A,26B,52B,56B,87C,92C 'ipado':27B,54B,58B,90C,95C 'issu':75C,83C 'kernel':5A,14A,38B,47B,117C 'let':10A,39B 'maco':4A,28B,60B,64B,68B,97C,101C,104C 'malici':41B 'manag':81C 'may':109C 'memori':80C 'privileg':48B,118C 'releas':50B 'run':13A 'sequoia':65B,102C 'taho':69B,105C 'use':7A,31B,72C 'use-after-fre':6A,30B","nicknames":[],"mitigations":[],"who_affected":"Any Apple device running an OS build older than the listed fixed releases can be affected. The source describes the flaw as reachable by an app, so any device that runs third-party or untrusted apps is the main concern. Managed fleets that pin older OS versions should treat this as a priority. Devices already on the fixed releases are not affected.","tier":"B","verified":{},"analyst_revisit_at":null,"first_public_at":"2026-10-26T21:20:28+00:00","kev":null,"cvss_vector":"CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H","cvss_by":"134c704f-9b21-4f2e-91b3-4a467353bcc0","poc_count":0,"sources":[{"source":"nvd","external_id":"CVE-2026-86916","url":"https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-86916","severity":null,"published_at":"2026-10-26T21:20:28+00:00","modified_at":"2026-10-26T21:20:28+00:00","first_seen_at":"2026-10-26T21:55:22+00:00","fetched_at":"2026-10-26T21:55:22+00:00","note":null}],"documents":[],"notice":"Free to read at a human pace. An API with keys and an MCP server are in preparation; early access: hello@infrastack.ai"}