CVE-2026-84521

System termination via kernel use-after-free

Published Sep 14, 2026 · Updated Sep 14, 2026

A use-after-free in the Apple kernel on affected iOS, iPadOS, macOS, and visionOS releases allows local apps to terminate the system. Apple identifies the locus only as Kernel and states that improved memory management corrects the use-after-free, without disclosing the affected object or code path. Exploitation requires an app to run locally, and the documented consequence is unexpected system termination rather than code execution or data access.

CVSS severityUnavailable
Unscored
EPSS probability0.13%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

A use-after-free in the Apple kernel on affected iOS, iPadOS, macOS, and visionOS releases allows local apps to terminate the system. Apple identifies the locus only as Kernel and states that improved memory management corrects the use-after-free, without disclosing the affected object or code path. Exploitation requires an app to run locally, and the documented consequence is unexpected system termination rather than code execution or data access.

The record

CVE
CVE-2026-84521
Published
Sep 14, 2026
Updated
Sep 14, 2026
Vendor
Apple
Product
iOS and iPadOS
Classifications
Unavailable
Attack vector
local
Privileges
Unavailable

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Sep 14, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Sep 14, 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 <26.7
  2. Affected versionversion=0 <27

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesUnavailable in this record.

What is affected?

Apple · iOS and iPadOSversion=0 <26.7; version=0 <27
Apple · visionOSversion=0 <27
Apple · macOSversion=0 <15.8; version=0 <26.7; version=0 <27

Published CVSS scores

No CVSS assessment is available in this record.

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

No sourced classifications are available.

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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