Kernel memory write via stale decoder queue entry
Published Mar 25, 2026 · Updated Mar 25, 2026
Kernel use-after-free in affected Apple operating systems allows local apps to crash the system or write kernel memory. In AppleJPEGDriver, the startDecoder timeout path frees a request without removing its embedded node from the per-codec queue, so a later queue walk dereferences the stale entry. A locally installed app and subsequent JPEG decoding are required; the demonstrated iOS path produces a deferred kernel panic, while Apple also reports kernel-memory write impact.
Summary
What happened
Kernel use-after-free in affected Apple operating systems allows local apps to crash the system or write kernel memory. In AppleJPEGDriver, the startDecoder timeout path frees a request without removing its embedded node from the per-codec queue, so a later queue walk dereferences the stale entry. A locally installed app and subsequent JPEG decoding are required; the demonstrated iOS path produces a deferred kernel panic, while Apple also reports kernel-memory write impact.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2026-20687
- Published
- Mar 25, 2026
- Updated
- Mar 25, 2026
- Vendor
- Apple
- Product
- iOS and iPadOS
- Classifications
- CWE-416, T1499.004
- Attack vector
- local
- Privileges
- unauthenticated
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Mar 25, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- Mar 25, 2026Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.
Exploitability
Present is not the same as exploitable
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Is a vulnerable build present?
Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.
- Affected versionversion=0 <18.7.7
- Affected versionversion=0 <26.4
What conditions does exploitation require?
What is affected?
Published CVSS scores
CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.
Attacks
What attackers are doing with it
Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.
Public exploit references
- AppleJPEGDriver startDecoder timeout use-after-free proof of conceptproof of concept · demonstrated
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Technologies
Your stack
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Your stack
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