Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
A memory-safety flaw in Apple operating systems can let an app write beyond intended memory boundaries and unexpectedly terminate the system. Apple addressed it through stronger bounds checking. The supplied evidence does not identify the vulnerable component, complete affected-version ranges, or confirmed exploitation.
Executive priority
Treat remediation as urgent because the supplied severity is critical and affected Apple endpoints may suffer system termination. Accelerate routine patch deployment, but avoid claiming compromise: the available evidence neither confirms exploitation nor establishes confidentiality or integrity impact in Apple’s description.
Technical view
CVE-2026-43802 is a CWE-787 out-of-bounds write with a supplied CVSS 3.1 score of 9.8. Apple states that an app may cause unexpected system termination. Fixes are included in iOS/iPadOS 18.7.10, macOS Sequoia 15.7.8, Sonoma 14.8.8, and Tahoe 26.6.
Likely exposure
Organizations using Apple devices below the named fixed releases may be exposed. The bundle provides placeholder affected versions rather than reliable lower boundaries, so exact vulnerable ranges cannot be established. Prioritize managed fleets, privileged workstations, and systems running untrusted or externally sourced applications.
Exploitation context
The supplied record is not in KEV and provides no evidence of active exploitation. Although the CVSS vector indicates network reachability without privileges or interaction, Apple’s description only identifies an app-triggered system termination scenario.
Researcher notes
The record identifies CWE-787 but omits the affected component, trigger details, and dependable version boundaries. The 9.8 vector claims network attackability and high confidentiality, integrity, and availability impact; Apple’s narrative only supports an app causing termination. Further vendor clarification is needed before asserting broader impact.
Mitigation direction
- Update iPhones and iPads to iOS or iPadOS 18.7.10 or later.
- Update Sequoia systems to macOS 15.7.8 or later.
- Update Sonoma systems to macOS 14.8.8 or later.
- Update Tahoe systems to macOS 26.6 or later.
- Check Apple guidance for unsupported systems or unavailable updates.
Validation and detection
- Inventory iOS, iPadOS, and macOS versions across managed devices.
- Confirm installed versions meet or exceed the applicable fixed release.
- Review update failures and devices missing from management coverage.
- Monitor system termination reports, without treating crashes alone as proof of exploitation.
- Recheck Apple advisories for revised affected ranges or exploitation information.
Public sources used
Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.
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-787: 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.
Open ATT&CK lookupCVE-2026-43802 mapping review
Open the CVE-to-ATT&CK bridge for reviewed, inferred, or future official mappings tied to this CVE.
Open ATT&CK lookup- Severity
- Critical
- CVSS
- 9.8 (3.1)
- Known Exploited
- No
- Published
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
CNA and ADP enrichment extracted from CVE v5
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.
SSVC decision data
CVSS vector scores
1 official scoreWe 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.
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H3.95.9CISA-ADPVulnerability scoring details
Base CVSS 3.1 score
9.8CriticalVector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Vulnerability timeline
Timeline events are normalized from CVE metadata, CNA source timelines, ADP timelines, and KEV metadata when present.
- CVE reservedCVE Program
The CVE ID was reserved by the assigning CNA.
- CVE publishedCVE Program
The CVE record was published.
- CVE updatedCVE Program
The CVE record metadata indicates this as the latest update time.
ADP provider summaries
Source materials
- CVE List V5 sourceCVE List V5
- https://support.apple.com/en-us/128067CVE reference, apple
- https://support.apple.com/en-us/128071CVE reference, apple
- https://support.apple.com/en-us/128072CVE reference, apple
- https://support.apple.com/en-us/148287CVE reference, apple
Products and packages named in the record
CWE details
CWE links open Glexia weakness intelligence pages with official CWE context, developer remediation guidance, and related CVE mappings.
Out-of-bounds Write
Out-of-bounds Write represents a recurring weakness pattern that can create exploitable paths when design, validation, or implementation controls are missing.