CVE-2026-28985

Local-network denial of service via null dereference

Published May 11, 2026 · Updated May 11, 2026

Null pointer dereference in mDNSResponder in iOS, iPadOS, macOS Tahoe, and tvOS before 26.5 allows remote attackers to interrupt service. mDNSResponder dereferences a null pointer while processing insufficiently validated network input, but Apple has not disclosed the triggering field or code path. The attacker must share the target's local network, and the reported consequence is service interruption without disclosed code execution or data exposure.

CVSS severity6.2
Medium
EPSS probability0.16%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Null pointer dereference in mDNSResponder in iOS, iPadOS, macOS Tahoe, and tvOS before 26.5 allows remote attackers to interrupt service. mDNSResponder dereferences a null pointer while processing insufficiently validated network input, but Apple has not disclosed the triggering field or code path. The attacker must share the target's local network, and the reported consequence is service interruption without disclosed code execution or data exposure.

The record

CVE
CVE-2026-28985
Published
May 11, 2026
Updated
May 11, 2026
Vendor
Apple
Product
iOS and iPadOS
Classifications
CWE-476, T1499
Attack vector
adjacent
Privileges
unauthenticated

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 <26.5

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectoradjacent
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Apple · iOS and iPadOSversion=0 <26.5
Apple · tvOSversion=0 <26.5
Apple · macOSversion=0 <26.5

Published CVSS scores

6.2CISA-ADPCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H

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)
Vectoradjacent
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-476NULL Pointer Dereference
T1499Endpoint Denial of Service

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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