CVE-2026-65338 Overview
CVE-2026-65338 is a memory handling vulnerability affecting Apple Safari and multiple Apple operating systems. Processing maliciously crafted web content can trigger an unexpected Safari crash, resulting in denial of service. The flaw is categorized under [CWE-119] (Improper Restriction of Operations within the Bounds of a Memory Buffer).
Apple addressed the issue with improved memory handling in Safari 26.6.1, iOS 18.7.10, iPadOS 18.7.10, iOS 26.6.1, iPadOS 26.6.1, and macOS Tahoe 26.6.2. Exploitation requires user interaction, specifically visiting a malicious web page.
Critical Impact
Remote attackers can crash Safari on unpatched Apple devices by luring users to a malicious web page, disrupting browsing sessions.
Affected Products
- Apple Safari (prior to 26.6.1)
- Apple iOS and iPadOS (prior to 18.7.10 and 26.6.1)
- Apple macOS Tahoe (prior to 26.6.2)
Discovery Timeline
- 2026-08-17 - CVE-2026-65338 published to NVD
- 2026-08-18 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2026-65338
Vulnerability Analysis
The vulnerability resides in how Safari's web content processing pipeline handles specific memory operations. When Safari parses maliciously crafted HTML, JavaScript, or associated web resources, the underlying WebKit component mishandles memory buffers. This mishandling leads to an unexpected crash of the browser process.
The issue falls under [CWE-119], which covers improper restriction of operations within a memory buffer's bounds. Apple's advisories describe the remediation as improved memory handling, indicating that the previous implementation failed to enforce correct bounds or lifetime constraints on memory regions during content processing.
The impact is limited to availability. There is no reported evidence of memory disclosure or code execution stemming from this specific issue, and the vulnerability is not listed on the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog.
Root Cause
The root cause is improper memory handling within Safari's web content rendering engine. Specific technical details about which WebKit subsystem is affected are not disclosed in Apple's advisories. The fix modifies memory handling routines to correctly manage buffer operations during the processing of crafted web content.
Attack Vector
Exploitation requires a user to visit or be redirected to a malicious web page containing crafted content. The attack proceeds over the network without authentication but requires user interaction. Successful exploitation results in a Safari crash, terminating active browsing sessions and any unsaved state.
No verified proof-of-concept code is publicly available. See the Apple Support Document #148281, Apple Support Document #148282, Apple Support Document #148286, and Apple Support Document #148287 for vendor technical references.
Detection Methods for CVE-2026-65338
Indicators of Compromise
- Repeated or unexpected Safari process terminations correlated with visits to unfamiliar or untrusted domains
- Crash reports referencing WebKit or Safari components in ~/Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/ on macOS or in device analytics on iOS and iPadOS
- Web traffic to domains hosting obfuscated JavaScript or malformed HTML immediately preceding Safari crashes
Detection Strategies
- Monitor endpoint telemetry for abnormal Safari or WebKit process termination events across managed Apple devices
- Correlate browser crash events with recent URL visits and downloaded web content in proxy and DNS logs
- Track Apple device inventory to identify systems running Safari, iOS, iPadOS, or macOS versions prior to the fixed releases
Monitoring Recommendations
- Ingest macOS unified logs and iOS device analytics into a centralized log platform for browser crash correlation
- Alert on clusters of Safari crashes occurring across multiple users, which may indicate a shared malicious URL
- Review web proxy logs for requests to newly observed domains that coincide with browser instability reports
How to Mitigate CVE-2026-65338
Immediate Actions Required
- Upgrade Safari to version 26.6.1 on affected macOS systems
- Update iPhone and iPad devices to iOS 18.7.10, iPadOS 18.7.10, iOS 26.6.1, or iPadOS 26.6.1 as applicable
- Upgrade macOS systems to macOS Tahoe 26.6.2
- Enforce update compliance through Mobile Device Management (MDM) policies
Patch Information
Apple released fixes across four advisories. Refer to Apple Support Document #148281, Apple Support Document #148282, Apple Support Document #148286, and Apple Support Document #148287 for release notes and supported device lists. The fixes apply improved memory handling to the affected code paths.
Workarounds
- Advise users to avoid clicking untrusted links and to close unexpected pop-ups until patches are applied
- Deploy web filtering or DNS security to block access to known malicious domains
- Use an alternative browser on unpatched systems where operational risk is elevated
# Verify Safari version on macOS
defaults read /Applications/Safari.app/Contents/Info.plist CFBundleShortVersionString
# Check macOS version
sw_vers -productVersion
# Trigger software update check
sudo softwareupdate --list
sudo softwareupdate --install --all --restart
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
