PatchSiren cyber security CVE debrief
CVE-2016-4666 Apple CVE debrief
CVE-2016-4666 is a high-severity Apple WebKit memory-corruption issue that could let a remote attacker use a crafted website to execute code or crash the browser/process. NVD lists iOS versions before 10.1, Safari before 10.0.1, and tvOS before 10.0.1 as affected.
- Vendor
- Apple
- Product
- Safari
- CVSS
- HIGH 8.8
- CISA KEV
- Not listed in stored evidence
- Original CVE published
- 2017-02-20
- Original CVE updated
- 2026-05-13
- Advisory published
- 2017-02-20
- Advisory updated
- 2026-05-13
Who should care
Organizations and individuals running affected Apple devices or browsers should care, especially endpoint teams managing iOS, Safari, and tvOS fleets. Because the attack path is a crafted website and the CVSS vector includes user interaction, anyone who may browse untrusted content on affected versions is in scope.
Technical summary
The CVE record describes a WebKit component memory corruption flaw (CWE-119). NVD classifies it as network-reachable with low attack complexity, no privileges required, and user interaction required (CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H). The outcome can be arbitrary code execution or denial of service via application crash when a crafted website is processed.
Defensive priority
High. The issue combines remote delivery, code-execution potential, and affected consumer-facing software. Prioritize patching or upgrading any exposed Apple device or Safari installation at or below the vulnerable versions.
Recommended defensive actions
- Upgrade iOS to 10.1 or later on affected devices.
- Upgrade Safari to 10.0.1 or later on affected systems.
- Upgrade tvOS to 10.0.1 or later on affected devices.
- Review asset inventories for Apple endpoints that may still run pre-fix versions.
- Treat untrusted web content as a trigger path on vulnerable systems until upgrades are complete.
Evidence notes
The CVE record and NVD detail identify Apple as the vendor and WebKit as the affected component. The supplied NVD metadata lists the vulnerable version ranges: iOS before 10.1, Safari before 10.0.1, and tvOS before 10.0.1. NVD also assigns CWE-119 and CVSS v3.0 8.8 High with user interaction required. Public disclosure date in the supplied record is 2017-02-20T08:59:00.447Z; the record was last modified on 2026-05-13T00:24:29.033Z.
Sources and references
Verified primary and authoritative sources
-
CVE-2016-4666 CVE Program record
Publisher, destination, and source semantics verified
URL: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2016-4666
CVE Program - Official CVE Program record with source-provided CVE metadata.
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CVE-2016-4666 NVD vulnerability detail
Publisher, destination, and source semantics verified
URL: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2016-4666
NIST National Vulnerability Database - Official NIST NVD detail page and source-specific vulnerability assessment.
Supplemental references
-
Mitigation or vendor reference
Unverified legacy reference
URL: https://support.apple.com/HT207270
[email protected] - Vendor Advisory
-
Mitigation or vendor reference
Unverified legacy reference
URL: https://support.apple.com/HT207271
[email protected] - Vendor Advisory
-
Mitigation or vendor reference
Unverified legacy reference
URL: https://support.apple.com/HT207272
[email protected] - Vendor Advisory
Methodology and review provenance
AI-assisted synthesis based on stored public vulnerability evidence. System validation, approval state, and publication status do not by themselves establish human review of this revision. PatchSiren helps prioritize defensive review and does not prove exposure or remediation on any system.