CVE-2026-28969

System termination via IOKit use-after-free

Published May 11, 2026 · Updated May 11, 2026

Use-after-free in IOKit in Apple iOS, iPadOS, macOS, tvOS, visionOS, and watchOS allows local users to cause system termination. IOKit memory management permits access to an object after it is freed, but Apple has not disclosed the affected routine or object lifecycle. Exploitation requires a locally executing app; Apple reports system termination only, with no disclosed data exposure or code execution.

CVSS severity7.5
High
EPSS probability0.53%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Use-after-free in IOKit in Apple iOS, iPadOS, macOS, tvOS, visionOS, and watchOS allows local users to cause system termination. IOKit memory management permits access to an object after it is freed, but Apple has not disclosed the affected routine or object lifecycle. Exploitation requires a locally executing app; Apple reports system termination only, with no disclosed data exposure or code execution.

The record

CVE
CVE-2026-28969
Published
May 11, 2026
Updated
May 11, 2026
Vendor
Apple
Product
iOS and iPadOS
Classifications
CWE-416, T1499.004
Attack vector
local
Privileges
Unavailable

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. May 11, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. May 11, 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.

  1. Affected versionversion=0 <18.7.9
  2. Affected versionversion=0 <26.5

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesUnavailable in this record.

What is affected?

Apple · iOS and iPadOSversion=0 <18.7.9; version=0 <26.5
Apple · visionOSversion=0 <26.5
Apple · tvOSversion=0 <26.5
Apple · macOSversion=0 <14.8.7; version=0 <15.7.7; version=0 <26.5
Apple · watchOSversion=0 <26.5

Published CVSS scores

7.5CISA-ADPCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N

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.

Daily unique IPsNo honeypot observations are available for this CVE in the selected window.

No observations available

Sep 10, 2026Sep 16, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 16, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectorlocal
PrivilegesUnavailable
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-416Use After Free
T1499.004Application or System Exploitation

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.

Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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