Kernel-level flaw in ubiquitous Apple OSes can crash or corrupt devices across enterprises; high CVSS and wide install base warrant org-wide alert.
CVE-2026-84561
Double-free in Apple OS kernel allowing device crashes and kernel corruption
Is CVE-2026-84561 being exploited?
Not confirmed. CVE-2026-84561 does not appear in CISA's Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog, which records only exploitation that has been observed and reported publicly. That is evidence of absence of a report, not evidence the flaw is unattacked.
How severe is CVE-2026-84561?
CVE-2026-84561 is rated Critical with a CVSS score of 9.8. Severity describes how bad exploitation would be, not how likely it is: pair it with exploitation evidence before deciding what to patch first.
Is there a patch for CVE-2026-84561?
Yes. A fix has been recorded for CVE-2026-84561. The vendor advisory is the authority on the exact fixed version — apply it from there rather than from a summary.
What does CVE-2026-84561 affect?
CVE-2026-84561 affects iOS (iPhone OS), iPadOS, macOS Golden Gate, macOS Sequoia, and 4 further products or versions. Confirm the exact affected versions against the vendor advisory before deciding you are exposed.
What should I do about CVE-2026-84561?
Update all Apple devices to the listed fixed OS versions immediately
Exploitation status reflects CISA's KEV catalog as we last synced it. Check the catalog directly.
A malicious local app can cause system termination or corrupt kernel memory, enabling DoS and potential privilege escalation/device compromise.
Immediate action required
- affected< 26.7
- affected< 27
- affected< 15.8
- affected< 26.7
- affected< 27
- affected< 27
- affected< 27
- affected< 27
As published in the CVE Program record. A version outside these ranges is not a statement that it is unaffected — vendors sometimes understate a range, and distribution-backported builds carry upstream numbers that do not reflect what was patched into them.