High

CoreServices crafted file denial of service in Apple platforms

IdentifiersCVE-2026-28936CWE-20· Improper Input Validation

CVE-2026-28936 is a denial-of-service vulnerability in Apple CoreServices affecting iOS 18.7.9 and iPadOS 18.7.9, iOS 26.5 and iPadOS 26.5, macOS Sonoma 14.8.7, macOS Tahoe 26.5, and visionOS 26.5. According to Apple, processing a maliciously crafted file may lead to unexpected app termination. The vendor states the issue was addressed with improved checks. The available advisory text does not identify the specific parser, function, or file format involved, so the precise root cause is not publicly specified in the provided material.

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ANALYST BRIEF

Impact, mitigation & remediation

What it means. What to do now. Patch path, mitigations, and the assume-compromise checklist.

Impact

What an attacker gets, and what they’ve been doing with it.

Successful exploitation can crash the targeted application that processes the attacker-controlled file, resulting in denial of service at the application level. Based on the provided information, there is no evidence that this issue enables code execution, privilege escalation, sandbox escape, or data disclosure; the documented impact is limited to unexpected app termination.

Mitigation

If you can’t patch tonight, do this now.

Until patches are applied, reduce exposure by avoiding opening or automatically processing untrusted files from external or unknown sources, especially in workflows that invoke CoreServices file handling. Where operationally feasible, restrict delivery of untrusted files through email, messaging, downloads, and shared storage, and use application isolation or least-privilege controls to limit operational impact from application crashes. No vendor-specific workaround beyond updating is provided in the supplied content.

Remediation

Patch, then assume compromise.

Apply the vendor fixes provided by Apple. The issue is fixed in iOS 18.7.9, iPadOS 18.7.9, iOS 26.5, iPadOS 26.5, macOS Sonoma 14.8.7, macOS Tahoe 26.5, and visionOS 26.5. Upgrade affected devices and systems to the relevant patched release or later.

PUBLIC EXPLOITS

Exploits

No public exploits tracked yet. Mallory keeps watching.

VALID 0 / 0 TOTALView more in app

No public exploit code observed for this vulnerability.

EXPOSURE SURFACE

Affected products & vendors

Products and vendors Mallory has correlated with this vulnerability. Open in Mallory to drill down to specific CPE configurations and version ranges.

VendorProductType

AppleIosoperating_system

AppleIpadosoperating_system

AppleIphone Osoperating_system

AppleMacosoperating_system

AppleVisionosoperating_system

Vendor-confirmed product mapping. Mallory continuously reconciles this list against your asset inventory.

ACTIVITY FEED

Recent activity

12 sources tracked across advisories, community write-ups, and news. New activity surfaces here as Mallory finds it.

12 SOURCESView more in app

handlers diary fullNews

May 11, 2026

Apple Patches Everything - SANS Internet Storm Center

A file parsing vulnerability in CoreServices that may lead to unexpected app termination.

apple supportNews

May 11, 2026

About the security content of macOS Tahoe 26.5 - Apple Support (CA)

A macOS Tahoe vulnerability where processing a maliciously crafted file may lead to unexpected app termination.

apple supportNews

May 11, 2026

About the security content of macOS Sonoma 14.8.7 - Apple Support

A macOS Sonoma vulnerability where a maliciously crafted file may cause unexpected app termination.

apple supportNews

May 11, 2026

About the security content of iOS 26.5 and iPadOS 26.5 - Apple Support

A file parsing vulnerability that could cause unexpected app termination.

+5 more in the timeline

What this page doesn’t show

The version that knows your environment.

This page is what’s public. Mallory adds the parts that aren’t: which of your assets are affected, which adversaries are exploiting it right now, which detections to deploy, and what to do tonight.

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Exposure mapping

Query your assets running an affected version, and investigate the blast radius.

Threat actor evidence

Every observed campaign linking this CVE to a named adversary.

Associated malware

Malware families riding this exploit, with evidence and IOCs.

Detection signatures

YARA, Sigma, Snort, and vendor rules, auto-deployed to your SIEM.

Vendor-by-vendor mapping

Cross-references every affected SKU, including bundled OEM variants.

Social activity3