CVE-2026-28994: Buffer Overflow

Published May 11, 2026
·
Updated

A use after free issue was addressed with improved memory management. 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, watchOS 26.5. An attacker in a privileged network position may be able to perform denial-of-service attack using crafted Wi-Fi packets.

Other sources

Accelerate. An out-of-bounds read was addressed with improved bounds checking.

— Apple

Accessibility. This issue was addressed through improved state management.

— Apple

Accounts. A permissions issue was addressed with additional restrictions.

— Apple

Accounts. An authorization issue was addressed with improved state management.

— Apple

AirDrop. A reachable assertion was addressed with improved input validation.

— Apple

Credit

Dave G., Aswin Kumar Gokula Kannan, Csaba Fitzl@@theevilbit(Iru), Suresh Sundaram, Jiri Ha, Arni Hardarson, wdszzml, Atuin Automated Vulnerability Discovery Engine, Johnny Franks@@zeroxjf, Google Threat Analysis Group, Mihalis Haatainen, Ari Hawking, Ashish Kunwar, Vaagn Vardanian, Nathaniel Oh@@calysteon, Yiğit Can YILMAZ@@yilmazcanyigit, Robert Tran(STAR Labs SG Pte), popku1337(STAR Labs SG Pte), Billy Jheng Bing Jhong(STAR Labs SG Pte), Pan Zhenpeng@@Peterpan0927(STAR Labs SG Pte), Aswin kumar Gokulakannan, Calif.io in collaboration with Claude, Anthropic Research, beist, Ryan Hileman via Xint Code (xint.io), Tristan Madani@@TristanInSec(Talence Security), Chris Betz, Dhiyanesh Selvaraj@@redroot97, Atul R V, Anton Pakhunov, Ricardo Prado, Ian van der Wurff (ian.nl), Ilya Sc. Jowell A., Morris Richman@@morrisinlife, Andrei Dodu, Peter Malone, Doron Assness, Alex Radocea, Amy (amys.website), YingQi Shi@@Mas0nShi(DBAppSecurity's WeBin lab), Andreas Jaegersberger & Ro Achterberg(Nosebeard Labs), an anonymous researcher, Wang Yu, Brendon Tiszka(Google Project Zero), Michael DePlante@@izobashi(TrendAI Zero Day Initiative), Peter Malone(Supernetworks), Dave G.(Supernetworks), Alex Radocea(Supernetworks), Andy Koo@@andykoo(Hexens), Arash Ale Ebrahim(SCy), Vamshi Paili, Tony Gorez for Reverse Society@@tonygo_, CVE-2026-1837, impost0r (ret2plt), Nicholas Soh, David Ige(Beryllium Security), Alan Wang, Ailsa Sun, Christopher W. Fletcher, Hovav Shacham, David Kohlbrenner, Riccardo Paccagnella, Niels Hofmans(TrendAI Zero Day Initiative), Anonymous(TrendAI Zero Day Initiative), Gandalf4a(PKU), Johnny Franks@@0xjohnny, Richard Zana, Somair Ansar, Robert Tran, Chris Betz(Talence Security), Ruslan Dautov, Zhongcheng Li (CK01), Omar Cerrito, Asaf Cohen, Jorge Welch, Adriatik Raci, Cantina, Luke Francis, kwak kiyong / kakaogames, Vitaly Simonovich, Adel Bouachraoui, greenbynox, Do Young Park, Artem Dinaburg(Trail of Bits via Anthropic CVD), Yuhao Hu, Yuanming Lai, Chenggang Wu, Zhe Wang, Idan Masas(TrendAI Zero Day Initiative), DARKNAVY@@DarkNavyOrg(TrendAI Zero Day Initiative), Daniel Rhea, Luka Rački, wac(TrendAI Zero Day Initiative), Kookhwan Lee(TrendAI Zero Day Initiative), Mateusz Krzywicki (iVerify.io), Maher Azzouzi, Aisle offensive security research team (Joshua Rogers(Calif), Luigino Camastra(Calif), Igor Morgenstern(Calif), (Calif), Guido Vranken)(Calif), Maher Azzouzi(Calif), Ngan Nguyen(Calif), dr3dd, Milad Nasr, Nicholas Carlini with Claude, Anthropic, Khiem Tran, lebr0nli(National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University), Security, Systems Lab, Kenneth Hsu(Palo Alto Networks), Jérôme DJOUDER, Abhay Kailasia@@abhay_kailasia(Safran Mumbai India), Seiji Sakurai@@HeapSmasher, Rosyna Keller(Totally Not Malicious Software), Alvin Aries Tapia, XiguaSec, Ilya Andr (andrd3v)(RTU MIREA), Ilias Morad (A2nkF)(Voynich Group), Duy Trần@@khanhduytran0, @@hugeBlack, Guy Dor, Kun Peeks@@SwayZGl1tZyyy, Surya Kushwaha, Matej Moravec@@MacejkoMoravec, CVE-2025-14017, CVE-2025-14819, Prathamesh Walunj@@attahasa, Dan Raviv, Surya Kushwaha(Supernetworks), Robert Tran(Supernetworks), Pan ZhenPeng@@Peterpan0927(STAR Labs SG Pte), David Ige - Beryllium Security, Gia Bui@@yabeow(Calif), w0wbox, Zhongcheng Li(IES Red Team), Jorge Welch@@jorgwelch

Affected Software

18 affected componentsFixes available
Apple macOS Tahoe<26.5
26.5
Apple iOS<26.5
26.5
Apple iPadOS<26.5
26.5
Apple macOS Sonoma<14.8.7
14.8.7
Apple macOS Sequoia<15.7.7
15.7.7
Apple tvOS<26.5
26.5
Apple WatchOS<26.5
26.5
Apple iOS<18.7.9
18.7.9
Apple iPadOS<18.7.9
18.7.9
Apple iPadOS<18.7.9
Apple iPadOS>=26.0<26.5
Apple iPhone OS<18.7.9
Apple iPhone OS>=26.0<26.5
Apple macOS>=14.0<14.8.7
Apple macOS>=15.0<15.7.7
Apple macOS>=26.0<26.5
Apple tvOS<26.5
Apple WatchOS<26.5

Remediation

Recommended actions to resolve this vulnerability, in priority order.

  1. Upgrade

    Upgrade to a fixed release to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 14.8.7
  2. Upgrade

    Upgrade to a fixed release to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 15.7.7
  3. Upgrade

    Upgrade to a fixed release to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 26.5
  4. Upgrade

    Upgrade to a fixed release to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 18.7.9
  5. Upgrade

    Upgrade to a fixed release to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in iOS 18.7.9
  6. Upgrade

    Upgrade to a fixed release to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in iPadOS 18.7.9
  7. Upgrade

    Upgrade to a fixed release to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in iOS 26.5
  8. Upgrade

    Upgrade to a fixed release to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in iPadOS 26.5
  9. Upgrade

    Upgrade to a fixed release to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in macOS Sequoia 15.7.7
  10. Upgrade

    Upgrade to a fixed release to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in macOS Sonoma 14.8.7
  11. Upgrade

    Upgrade to a fixed release to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in macOS Tahoe 26.5
  12. Upgrade

    Upgrade to a fixed release to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in tvOS 26.5
  13. Upgrade

    Upgrade to a fixed release to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in watchOS 26.5

Event History

May 11, 2026
Data Sourced
via Apple·12:00 AM
DescriptionWeaknessAffected Software
Updated
via Apple·12:00 AM
Affected Software
Updated
via Apple·12:00 AM
DescriptionWeaknessAffected Software
Updated
via Apple·12:00 AM
DescriptionAffected Software
Updated
via Apple·12:00 AM
DescriptionWeakness
Updated
via Apple·12:00 AM
Description
CVE Published
via MITRE·08:08 PM
Data Sourced
via MITRE·08:08 PM
DescriptionWeakness
Data Sourced
via NVD·09:18 PM
DescriptionSeverityWeaknessAffected Software

Parent advisories

This vulnerability appears in the following advisories.

Peer vulnerabilities

Found alongside the following vulnerabilities.

Frequently Asked Questions

1

What is the severity of CVE-2026-28994?

CVE-2026-28994 is classified as a critical severity vulnerability due to its potential exploitation in a privileged network situation.

2

How do I fix CVE-2026-28994?

To fix CVE-2026-28994, upgrade to the latest versions of affected Apple products, specifically to iOS 18.7.9, iPadOS 18.7.9, macOS Sequoia 15.7.7, macOS Sonoma 14.8.7, macOS Tahoe 26.5, tvOS 26.5, or watchOS 26.5.

3

What systems are affected by CVE-2026-28994?

CVE-2026-28994 affects multiple Apple products including iOS, iPadOS, macOS Sequoia, macOS Sonoma, macOS Tahoe, tvOS, and watchOS versions prior to the specified fixes.

4

What type of vulnerability is CVE-2026-28994?

CVE-2026-28994 is a use after free vulnerability that relates to memory management issues, allowing potential attackers to execute arbitrary code.

5

Is my device safe from CVE-2026-28994 if it is updated?

Yes, devices that have been updated to the fixed versions are safe from CVE-2026-28994.

Company

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