# CVE-2016-4656: Apple iOS Memory Corruption

> Attackers can execute arbitrary code or cause denial of service via a crafted app due to memory corruption in the iOS kernel.

- **Severity:** High 7.8 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Yes, since 24 May 2022 (CISA KEV)
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Local or same network only
- **Victim action needed:** A user has to click or open something
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 25 Aug 2016
- **Updated:** 21 Oct 2025
- **Also known as:** GHSA-6x59-8x45-xrp8

## What is CVE-2016-4656?

CVE-2016-4656 is a high-severity memory corruption vulnerability in Apple Iphone Os, published on 25 Aug 2016. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.

### Official description

The kernel in Apple iOS before 9.3.5 allows attackers to execute arbitrary code in a privileged context or cause a denial of service (memory corruption) via a crafted app.

Weakness: CWE-787 (Out-of-bounds Write)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2016-4656?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Apple Iphone Os.

## How do I fix CVE-2016-4656?

No fix has been published for CVE-2016-4656 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available. US federal agencies must fix it by 14 Jun 2022.

## Is CVE-2016-4656 being exploited?

Yes. Attackers have exploited CVE-2016-4656 in the wild since at least 24 May 2022.

Public exploit code:

- WebKit not_number defineProperties UAF (metasploit)
- WebKit - not_number defineProperties UAF (Metasploit) (exploitdb)

## Other vulnerabilities in Apple Iphone Os

- [CVE-2021-30666](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-30666/): Apple iOS WebKit Buffer Overflow (high 8.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2021-30761](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-30761/): Apple iOS WebKit Memory Corruption (high 8.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2021-30762](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-30762/): Apple iOS WebKit Use-After-Free (high 8.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2016-4657](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2016-4657/): Apple iOS Webkit Memory Corruption (high 8.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2019-7286](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2019-7286/): Apple Multiple Products Memory Corruption (high 7.8, exploited in the wild)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2016-4656 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2016-4656 is a high-severity memory corruption vulnerability in Apple Iphone Os, published on 25 Aug 2016. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.
Exploitation: Yes. Attackers have exploited CVE-2016-4656 in the wild since at least 24 May 2022.

Affected product: Apple Iphone Os. No package-level version data is available, so check the vendor advisory linked from the reference page.

Task:
1. Search the dependency manifests and lockfiles (for example package.json, package-lock.json, requirements.txt, poetry.lock, uv.lock, pom.xml, build.gradle, go.mod, Cargo.lock, Gemfile.lock) and any Dockerfiles for the affected packages, including transitive dependencies.
2. If an affected version is in use, upgrade it to the fixed version for its release line with the project's package manager, so the lockfile is regenerated. Prefer the smallest upgrade that fixes it.
3. If there is no fix, or the upgrade would break the build, do not guess: explain the risk and the safest workaround instead.
4. Run the tests and summarise what changed and why.
5. If nothing in the project is affected, say so and change nothing.

Reference: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2016-4656/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2016-4656/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2016-4656
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2016-4656
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2016-4656

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From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2016-4656/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.