# CVE-2019-8641: Memory corruption in iOS

> An out-of-bounds read in Apple operating systems allows attackers to disclose memory or cause a crash.

- **Severity:** Critical 9.8 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 18 Dec 2019
- **Updated:** 4 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-27cj-jh44-8xw6

## What is CVE-2019-8641?

CVE-2019-8641 is a critical memory corruption vulnerability in Apple Iphone Os, published on 18 Dec 2019. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

An out-of-bounds read was addressed with improved input validation.

Weakness: CWE-125 (Out-of-bounds Read)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2019-8641?

It affects 4 products.


Products: Apple Iphone Os, Apple Mac Os X, Apple Tvos, Apple Watchos.

## How do I fix CVE-2019-8641?

No fix has been published for CVE-2019-8641 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2019-8641 being exploited?

It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2019-8641 exists.

Public exploit code:

- The reproduction code for CVE-2019-8641. (github_poc): https://github.com/chia33164/CVE-2019-8641-reproduction
- iMessage - Decoding NSSharedKeyDictionary Can Read Object Out of Bounds (exploitdb)
- iMessage - Decoding NSSharedKeyDictionary can read ObjC Object at Attacker Controlled Address (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-2019-8641 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2019-8641 is a critical memory corruption vulnerability in Apple Iphone Os, published on 18 Dec 2019. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2019-8641 exists.

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-2019-8641/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2019-8641/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2019-8641
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2019-8641
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2019-8641

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2019-8641/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.