Kernel-memory disclosure or reboot via stale scheduler entries
Published May 11, 2026 · Updated May 11, 2026
An out-of-bounds read in IOSurfaceAccelerator in Apple operating systems before 26.5 allows local users to read kernel memory or reboot devices. AppleM2ScalerCSCDriver fails to purge pending asynchronous scaler operations from a shared scheduler when a client closes, so later passes dereference freed and reused operation storage. A sandboxed app without special private entitlements can prime the stale entries, and subsequent compositor activity can trigger a kernel read or system panic.
Summary
What happened
An out-of-bounds read in IOSurfaceAccelerator in Apple operating systems before 26.5 allows local users to read kernel memory or reboot devices. AppleM2ScalerCSCDriver fails to purge pending asynchronous scaler operations from a shared scheduler when a client closes, so later passes dereference freed and reused operation storage. A sandboxed app without special private entitlements can prime the stale entries, and subsequent compositor activity can trigger a kernel read or system panic.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2026-43655
- Published
- May 11, 2026
- Updated
- May 11, 2026
- Vendor
- Apple
- Product
- iOS and iPadOS
- Classifications
- CWE-125
- Attack vector
- local
- Privileges
- Unavailable
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?
Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.
- 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
Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.
Weakness, pattern, technique
Public exploit references
- AppleM2ScalerCSCDriver shared scheduler 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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