PatchSiren

PatchSiren cyber security CVE debrief

CVE-2016-4681 Apple CVE debrief

CVE-2016-4681 is a High-severity Apple vulnerability in macOS Core Image affecting versions before 10.12.1. A crafted JPEG can trigger memory corruption, leading to arbitrary code execution or a crash/denial of service. NVD rates the issue as requiring user interaction, so systems that open untrusted images should be patched promptly.

Vendor
Apple
Product
Unknown
CVSS
HIGH 7.8
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

Mac administrators, endpoint security teams, and users of macOS 10.12.0 or earlier—especially environments that regularly process untrusted JPEG files.

Technical summary

The NVD record maps this issue to macOS versions up to 10.12.0 and classifies it as CWE-119 (memory corruption). The published description says a crafted JPEG affecting the Core Image component can allow remote attackers to execute arbitrary code or cause a denial of service. NVD's CVSS 3.0 vector is AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H, which indicates the attack depends on user interaction with the malicious image.

Defensive priority

High. Patch any remaining macOS 10.12.0 or earlier systems immediately, and treat systems that routinely handle untrusted JPEGs as the highest priority.

Recommended defensive actions

  • Upgrade affected Macs to macOS 10.12.1 or later.
  • Inventory endpoints to confirm no systems remain on macOS 10.12.0 or earlier.
  • Prioritize patching devices that regularly handle untrusted JPEG files.
  • Use standard endpoint and application controls to reduce exposure to untrusted image content until patched.

Evidence notes

The corpus includes the CVE record, the NVD detail page, and Apple's vendor advisory reference. NVD lists the vulnerable CPE as macOS versions ending at 10.12.0, the weakness as CWE-119, and the CVSS 3.0 vector AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H. The description states the impact is arbitrary code execution or denial of service via a crafted JPEG processed by Core Image.

Sources and references

Verified primary and authoritative sources

  • CVE-2016-4681 CVE Program record

    Publisher, destination, and source semantics verified

    URL: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2016-4681

    CVE Program - Official CVE Program record with source-provided CVE metadata.

  • CVE-2016-4681 NVD vulnerability detail

    Publisher, destination, and source semantics verified

    URL: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2016-4681

    NIST National Vulnerability Database - Official NIST NVD detail page and source-specific vulnerability assessment.

Supplemental references

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.