Apple OS File Parser Crash, fixed 18.7.7
CVE-2026-20657 Published on March 25, 2026
The issue was addressed with improved memory handling. This issue is fixed in iOS 18.7.7 and iPadOS 18.7.7, macOS Sequoia 15.7.5, macOS Sonoma 14.8.5. Parsing a maliciously crafted file may lead to an unexpected app termination.
Vulnerability Analysis
CVE-2026-20657 can be exploited with network access, requires user interaction. This vulnerability is considered to have a low attack complexity. The potential impact of an exploit of this vulnerability is considered to have no impact on confidentiality and integrity, and a high impact on availability.
Weakness Types
What is a Buffer Overflow Vulnerability?
The software performs operations on a memory buffer, but it can read from or write to a memory location that is outside of the intended boundary of the buffer.
CVE-2026-20657 has been classified to as a Buffer Overflow vulnerability or weakness.
Out-of-bounds Read
The software reads data past the end, or before the beginning, of the intended buffer. Typically, this can allow attackers to read sensitive information from other memory locations or cause a crash. A crash can occur when the code reads a variable amount of data and assumes that a sentinel exists to stop the read operation, such as a NUL in a string. The expected sentinel might not be located in the out-of-bounds memory, causing excessive data to be read, leading to a segmentation fault or a buffer overflow. The software may modify an index or perform pointer arithmetic that references a memory location that is outside of the boundaries of the buffer. A subsequent read operation then produces undefined or unexpected results.
What is a Memory Corruption Vulnerability?
The software writes data past the end, or before the beginning, of the intended buffer. Typically, this can result in corruption of data, a crash, or code execution. The software may modify an index or perform pointer arithmetic that references a memory location that is outside of the boundaries of the buffer. A subsequent write operation then produces undefined or unexpected results.
CVE-2026-20657 has been classified to as a Memory Corruption vulnerability or weakness.
Products Associated with CVE-2026-20657
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Affected Versions
Apple iOS and iPadOS:- Before 18.7.7 is affected.
- Before 14.8.5 is affected.
- Before 15.7.5 is affected.
Exploit Probability
EPSS (Exploit Prediction Scoring System) scores estimate the probability that a vulnerability will be exploited in the wild within the next 30 days. The percentile shows you how this score compares to all other vulnerabilities.