CVE-2026-64787: Apple Safari Use-After-Free Vulnerability

CVE-2026-64787 Overview

CVE-2026-64787 is a use-after-free vulnerability [CWE-416] affecting Apple Safari, iOS, iPadOS, and macOS. Processing maliciously crafted web content can trigger the flaw and lead to unexpected process termination. Apple addressed the issue with improved memory management in Safari 26.6.1, iOS 26.6.1, iPadOS 26.6.1, and macOS Tahoe 26.6.2.

The vulnerability requires user interaction, such as visiting an attacker-controlled webpage. Exploitation impacts availability of the affected process without directly compromising confidentiality or integrity.

Critical Impact
Remote attackers can crash Safari or system processes by serving crafted web content to users on unpatched Apple devices.

Affected Products

Apple Safari (versions prior to 26.6.1)
Apple iOS and iPadOS (versions prior to 26.6.1)
Apple macOS Tahoe (versions prior to 26.6.2)

Discovery Timeline

2026-08-17 - CVE-2026-64787 published to NVD
2026-08-18 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2026-64787

Vulnerability Analysis

CVE-2026-64787 is a use-after-free memory corruption issue in Apple's web content processing stack. The affected component fails to properly manage the lifetime of a memory object. When crafted web content triggers the flawed code path, the process references memory that has already been freed. This condition results in unexpected process termination and denial of service on the affected device.

Apple's advisory documents state the issue was addressed with improved memory management. The affected surface spans Safari and the underlying WebKit rendering used across iOS, iPadOS, and macOS.

Root Cause

The root cause is dangling pointer access [CWE-416]. Application logic frees an object while another code path retains a reference to it. Subsequent access to the freed memory produces undefined behavior. In this case, the observed impact is process termination, though use-after-free conditions can, in some scenarios, be leveraged for further exploitation depending on heap state.

Attack Vector

Exploitation occurs over the network and requires user interaction. A victim must load attacker-controlled web content in Safari or an application embedding WebKit. No authentication or elevated privileges are required by the attacker. The delivery mechanism typically involves phishing links, malicious advertisements, or compromised websites hosting the crafted payload.

No verified public proof-of-concept code is available for this vulnerability. Refer to the Apple Support Document #148281, Apple Support Document #148282, and Apple Support Document #148286 for vendor-provided technical context.

Detection Methods for CVE-2026-64787

Indicators of Compromise

Repeated Safari or WebKit-based application crashes on iOS, iPadOS, or macOS endpoints following browsing activity.
Crash reports referencing WebKit or WebContent process termination in ~/Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/.
Outbound connections from browsers to newly registered or low-reputation domains preceding the crash.

Detection Strategies

Correlate browser crash telemetry with URL browsing history to identify content that consistently triggers WebContent termination.
Monitor endpoint software inventory for Safari, iOS, iPadOS, and macOS versions below the patched releases.
Ingest macOS unified logs and diagnostic crash reports into a centralized SIEM for pattern analysis.

Monitoring Recommendations

Track Apple operating system and Safari version compliance across managed fleets using MDM reporting.
Alert on anomalous frequencies of WebContent or Safari process exits per host.
Review web proxy logs for user visits to suspicious domains hosting exploit-like JavaScript or HTML payloads.

How to Mitigate CVE-2026-64787

Immediate Actions Required

Update Safari to version 26.6.1 or later on macOS endpoints.
Upgrade iOS and iPadOS devices to version 26.6.1 or later.
Upgrade macOS Tahoe endpoints to version 26.6.2 or later.
Push updates through Mobile Device Management (MDM) to enforce patch compliance across managed devices.

Patch Information

Apple resolved CVE-2026-64787 by improving memory management in the affected component. Patched releases are Safari 26.6.1, iOS 26.6.1, iPadOS 26.6.1, and macOS Tahoe 26.6.2. Consult Apple Support Document #148281, Apple Support Document #148282, and Apple Support Document #148286 for release-specific details.

Workarounds

Restrict browsing to trusted domains through enterprise web filtering until patches are deployed.
Disable JavaScript in Safari for high-risk user groups where feasible.
Educate users to avoid unsolicited links and untrusted websites during the patch window.

bash

# Verify installed Safari version on macOS
defaults read /Applications/Safari.app/Contents/Info.plist CFBundleShortVersionString

# Check macOS build version
sw_vers

# Trigger software update check
sudo softwareupdate --install --all --restart