# CVE-2026-43686: Use after free in iOS and iPadOS

> Connecting to a malicious NFS server can cause kernel memory corruption via use-after-free, potentially allowing code execution on Apple devices.

- **Severity:** High 8.8 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/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:** A user has to click or open something
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 14 Sep 2026
- **Updated:** 26 Oct 2026
- **Also known as:** GHSA-wx7g-gmcw-pmcw

## What is CVE-2026-43686?

CVE-2026-43686 is a high-severity use after free vulnerability in Apple Ipados, published on 14 Sep 2026. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.

### Official description

A use-after-free issue was addressed with improved memory management. This issue is fixed in iOS 26.7 and iPadOS 26.7, iOS 27 and iPadOS 27, macOS Golden Gate 27, macOS Sequoia 15.8, macOS Tahoe 26.7, tvOS 27, visionOS 27, watchOS 27. Connecting to a malicious NFS server may lead to kernel memory corruption.

Weakness: CWE-416 (Use After Free)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2026-43686?

It affects 6 products.


Products: Apple Ipados, Apple Iphone Os, Apple Macos, Apple Tvos, Apple Visionos, Apple Watchos.

## How do I fix CVE-2026-43686?

No fix has been published for CVE-2026-43686 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2026-43686 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2026-43686 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in Apple Ipados

- [CVE-2025-43300](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2025-43300/): Apple iOS, iPadOS, and macOS Out-of-Bounds Write (critical 10.0, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2025-24201](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2025-24201/): Apple Multiple Products WebKit Out-of-Bounds Write (critical 10.0, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2025-24085](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2025-24085/): Apple Multiple Products Use-After-Free (critical 10.0, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2025-31200](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2025-31200/): Apple Multiple Products Memory Corruption (critical 9.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2025-31201](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2025-31201/): Apple Multiple Products Arbitrary Read and Write (critical 9.8, exploited in the wild)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2026-43686 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2026-43686 is a high-severity use after free vulnerability in Apple Ipados, published on 14 Sep 2026. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2026-43686 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: Apple Ipados. 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-2026-43686/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-43686/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-43686
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-43686
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2026-43686

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-43686/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.