CVE-2026-28942: A use-after-free issue was addressed with improved memory management.
A use-after-free issue was addressed with improved memory management. This issue is fixed in Safari 26.5, iOS 26.5 and iPadOS 26.5, macOS Tahoe 26.5, tvOS 26.5, visionOS 26.5, watchOS 26.5. Processing maliciously crafted web content may lead to an unexpected Safari crash.
Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
CVE-2026-28942 is an Apple use-after-free memory issue triggered by maliciously crafted web content. Apple says the fix is in 26.5 releases across Safari and Apple operating systems. The public description names Safari crashes, while the CVSS score indicates high potential impact.
Executive priority
Treat as a high-priority Apple patching item, especially for fleets with broad web browsing exposure. There is no source-backed evidence of active exploitation in the provided bundle, but the impact rating supports prompt remediation.
Technical view
The issue is CWE-416 use-after-free, addressed by Apple with improved memory management. The CVSS 3.1 vector is 8.8, network reachable, low complexity, no privileges required, and user interaction required. Public sources do not provide exploit details or exact vulnerable version ranges.
Likely exposure
Organizations with Apple endpoints, mobile devices, TVs, watches, or Vision Pro devices below the named 26.5 fixed releases may be exposed. The source bundle does not define exact affected version ranges beyond fixed releases.
Exploitation context
The bundle marks KEV as false, and no provided source states active exploitation. The attack scenario requires processing maliciously crafted web content, so exposure is most relevant to users who browse or open web content.
Researcher notes
Public detail is limited. Apple describes a use-after-free fixed by memory-management changes and a Safari crash from malicious web content. Avoid assuming code execution or exploit availability unless later vendor or KEV evidence supports it.
Mitigation direction
Update Safari to 26.5 where applicable.
Update iOS, iPadOS, macOS Tahoe, tvOS, visionOS, and watchOS to 26.5.
Prioritize managed Apple devices used by executives or privileged users.
Follow Apple and Red Hat advisories for product-specific guidance.
If updates are delayed, reduce exposure to untrusted web content.
Validation and detection
Inventory Apple products against the listed 26.5 fixed releases.
Confirm Safari version on managed macOS systems.
Check mobile device management compliance for iOS and iPadOS 26.5.
Review vulnerability scanner mappings for CVE-2026-28942.
Track exception lists for devices unable to update.
Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.
Potential ATT&CK relevance
Conservative CVE-to-ATT&CK context
These mappings and lookup hints may be relevant to the vulnerability behavior, CWE, affected product, or exposure path. Glexia-inferred context is not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, CWE, or CVE Program mapping.
ATT&CK lookup starting points
Use these exact CWE pages and searches to review the Glexia ATT&CK library from this CVE's weakness and description context.
cwe · low confidence lookup
CWE-416: Exact CWE lookup
Use the exact CWE identifier as the starting point before reviewing related ATT&CK behavior. Open the exact CWE lookup page first, then review the ATT&CK searches from that MITRE weakness context. This is a Glexia lookup hint, not an official ATT&CK mapping.
These fields come from the CVE record and ADP containers, not from Glexia's Take. They preserve time-varying source decisions such as CISA SSVC, KEV status, CVSS metrics, and provider references.
We collect every scored CVSS vector available in the official CNA and ADP containers. When more than one version is present, the table keeps the source vectors side by side instead of collapsing them into the highest score.
CWE links open Glexia weakness intelligence pages with official CWE context, developer remediation guidance, and related CVE mappings.
CWE-416 · source CWE mapping
Use After Free
Use After Free represents a recurring weakness pattern that can create exploitable paths when design, validation, or implementation controls are missing.