CVE-2026-65410: Apple iPadOS Denial of Service Vulnerability

CVE-2026-65410 Overview

CVE-2026-65410 is a denial-of-service vulnerability affecting multiple Apple operating systems, including iOS, iPadOS, macOS, tvOS, visionOS, and watchOS. The flaw allows a malicious application to trigger unexpected system termination, disrupting device availability. Apple addressed the issue with improved checks in the affected components, mapped to [CWE-248] (Uncaught Exception).

The vulnerability carries a network attack vector according to its CVSS metrics, and Apple has released coordinated patches across its entire operating system portfolio. No public proof-of-concept exploit or evidence of in-the-wild exploitation has been reported.

Critical Impact
An app can cause unexpected system termination across Apple's device ecosystem, resulting in service disruption on affected iOS, iPadOS, macOS, tvOS, visionOS, and watchOS devices.

Affected Products

Apple iOS and iPadOS (fixed in iOS 26.7, iPadOS 26.7, iOS 27, iPadOS 27)
Apple macOS (fixed in macOS Golden Gate 27, macOS Tahoe 26.7)
Apple tvOS 27, visionOS 27, and watchOS 27

Discovery Timeline

2026-09-14 - CVE-2026-65410 published to NVD
2026-09-16 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2026-65410

Vulnerability Analysis

CVE-2026-65410 stems from insufficient validation within an Apple operating system component shared across the company's device platforms. According to Apple's advisory, an application can trigger conditions leading to unexpected system termination. This behavior aligns with [CWE-248] (Uncaught Exception), where the component fails to gracefully handle abnormal input or state transitions.

Apple resolved the flaw by adding improved checks to the affected code paths. The uniform advisory language across iOS, iPadOS, macOS, tvOS, visionOS, and watchOS suggests the vulnerable code resides in a shared framework or system library present in all Apple operating systems.

While the CVSS vector lists a network attack vector, the described impact requires an app running on the device to invoke the vulnerable code path. The result is an integrity-affecting condition that terminates the system unexpectedly rather than a memory-corruption or code-execution primitive.

Root Cause

The root cause is an unhandled exception or missing validation check in an Apple system component. Malformed input or unexpected state passed by an application causes the underlying process or system to abort. Apple has not publicly disclosed the specific component name.

Attack Vector

Exploitation requires an attacker-controlled application executing on a target device. Once loaded, the app invokes the vulnerable interface with crafted parameters, causing the system to terminate. The impact is a loss of availability rather than code execution or data exposure.

See the vendor advisories for detailed component information: Apple Support Document #149034, #149035, #149036, #149037, #149038, #149041, and #149042.

Detection Methods for CVE-2026-65410

Indicators of Compromise

Repeated unexpected system reboots or kernel panics on Apple devices running vulnerable OS versions.
Crash reports referencing shared system frameworks with abnormal termination signatures.
Applications from untrusted sources exhibiting anomalous inter-process communication with system services.

Detection Strategies

Monitor MDM (Mobile Device Management) telemetry for spikes in device reboot or panic events across the Apple fleet.
Review application crash logs collected via Apple's diagnostic reporting for recurring termination patterns.
Correlate installation of newly deployed or sideloaded apps with subsequent system stability incidents.

Monitoring Recommendations

Enroll Apple devices in an MDM platform capable of collecting and forwarding crash and reboot events.
Track OS version compliance to identify endpoints still running versions prior to the fixed builds.
Audit App Store and enterprise-signed app inventories for unknown or unvetted applications.

How to Mitigate CVE-2026-65410

Immediate Actions Required

Update all Apple devices to fixed OS versions: iOS 26.7, iPadOS 26.7, iOS 27, iPadOS 27, macOS Golden Gate 27, macOS Tahoe 26.7, tvOS 27, visionOS 27, and watchOS 27.
Prioritize patching devices used by executives, developers, and privileged users where availability disruption carries higher operational cost.
Restrict installation of unsigned or unvetted applications through MDM policy enforcement.

Patch Information

Apple released patches across its full device portfolio. Refer to the vendor advisories: Apple Support Document #149034, #149035, #149036, #149037, #149038, #149041, and #149042. Updates can be applied through Software Update on each device or pushed via MDM.

Workarounds

No official workaround has been published by Apple; upgrading to a fixed OS version is the only supported remediation.
Limit application installation to trusted, reviewed sources via App Store review and enterprise app vetting.
Enforce MDM restrictions that block sideloading and unknown developer profiles on managed devices.