Process-memory corruption via crafted image decoding
Published May 11, 2026 · Updated May 11, 2026
Memory corruption in ImageIO across affected Apple operating systems allows attackers to corrupt process memory via a crafted image. Apple identifies ImageIO as the locus but has not published the specific parser operation or memory-lifetime error that mishandles the image data. Exploitation requires an affected device to process a malicious image; the bounded disclosed consequence is corruption of the decoding process's memory.
Summary
What happened
Memory corruption in ImageIO across affected Apple operating systems allows attackers to corrupt process memory via a crafted image. Apple identifies ImageIO as the locus but has not published the specific parser operation or memory-lifetime error that mishandles the image data. Exploitation requires an affected device to process a malicious image; the bounded disclosed consequence is corruption of the decoding process's memory.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2026-28990
- Published
- May 11, 2026
- Updated
- May 11, 2026
- Vendor
- Apple
- Product
- iOS and iPadOS
- Classifications
- CWE-119
- Attack vector
- network
- Privileges
- unauthenticated
Timeline
How it unfolded
- May 11, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- 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?
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- Affected versionversion=0 <26.5
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
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Weakness, pattern, technique
Public exploit references
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Technologies
Your stack
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Your stack
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