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The vulnerability stems from a memory corruption flaw in the XNU kernel’s memory mapping subsystem, specifically within the `mach_vm_remap` functionality. A malicious application can craft a series of Mach system calls to trigger an out-of-bounds write condition. By manipulating virtual memory permissions and remapping kernel memory regions into user space, the application can corrupt critical kernel structures. This is achieved by sending a specially crafted `vm_map` entry that bypasses boundary checks during copy-on-write operations. The flaw resides in the `vm_map_copy_overwrite` function, where a race condition allows an attacker to write arbitrary data to a kernel address. Successful exploitation results in either a kernel panic (unexpected system termination) or arbitrary kernel memory writes. The latter can lead to privilege escalation, allowing the malicious app to gain root access or bypass sandbox restrictions. The issue was addressed by implementing robust bounds checking and serializing access to memory map entries, preventing the race condition and subsequent corruption.
dailycve form:
Platform: Apple Platforms
Version: Prior 26.1/15.7.2
Vulnerability: Kernel Memory Corruption
Severity: Critical
date: Mar 23 2026
Prediction: Already Patched
Analytics under What Undercode Say:
Check for vulnerable kernel version system_profiler SPSoftwareDataType | grep "System Version" Monitor for kernel panic logs related to vm_map log show --predicate 'eventMessage contains "vm_map_copy_overwrite"' --last 1h Verify patch status on macOS softwareupdate --history | grep -E "15.7.2|26.1"
Exploit:
Local privilege escalation via malicious app triggering `mach_vm_remap` race condition, leading to arbitrary kernel memory write and root shell.
Protection from this CVE:
Update to iOS 18.7.2, iPadOS 18.7.2, macOS Sequoia 15.7.2, macOS Tahoe 26.1, watchOS 26.1, tvOS 26.1, or visionOS 26.1. Enable Lockdown Mode for high-risk environments.
Impact:
Malicious application can cause unexpected system termination or corrupt kernel memory, potentially leading to full device compromise and unauthorized access to sensitive data.
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Sources:
Reported By: www.cve.org
Extra Source Hub:
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