PatchSiren

PatchSiren cyber security CVE debrief

CVE-2016-4683 Apple CVE debrief

CVE-2016-4683 is an Apple ImageIO vulnerability affecting macOS before 10.12.1. According to the NVD record, a crafted SGI file can trigger out-of-bounds memory access and application crash, with the potential for arbitrary code execution. The weakness is classified as CWE-119, and NVD assigns it a high CVSS 3.0 score of 7.8. From a defensive perspective, this is a file-parsing memory-safety issue that matters anywhere untrusted image content can be opened or processed on affected macOS systems. The safest interpretation of the source material is to treat it as a high-priority macOS update issue for systems still on 10.12.0 or earlier.

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

macOS administrators, endpoint security teams, and users who process untrusted image files should care most. Systems running macOS before 10.12.1, especially those that handle SGI images or other externally supplied media, are the highest-priority candidates for review and patching.

Technical summary

The affected component is Apple ImageIO. The vulnerability is described as being reachable through a crafted SGI file and can cause out-of-bounds memory access, application crash, or arbitrary code execution. NVD maps the issue to CWE-119 and lists the affected macOS range as versions through 10.12.0. The NVD CVSS vector is CVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H, indicating user interaction is required in the modeled attack path.

Defensive priority

High. Apply the Apple security update referenced by the NVD record as soon as practical on any macOS system at or below 10.12.0. Because the weakness can affect confidentiality, integrity, and availability, systems that routinely open untrusted files should be prioritized first.

Recommended defensive actions

  • Update affected macOS systems to a version newer than 10.12.0, as Apple and NVD indicate the issue is fixed by macOS 10.12.1 or later.
  • Review systems that process untrusted image content, especially SGI files, and prioritize them for patch validation.
  • Use the Apple security advisory referenced by NVD (HT207275) to confirm remediation coverage for your fleet.
  • If patching cannot be immediate, reduce exposure by limiting untrusted file handling on affected hosts until the update is applied.
  • Track affected endpoints through vulnerability management to confirm no pre-10.12.1 systems remain in production or in offline use.

Evidence notes

Source evidence comes from the supplied NVD record and its references. NVD states the issue affects macOS through 10.12.0, is associated with ImageIO, and involves a crafted SGI file causing out-of-bounds memory access and crash, with possible arbitrary code execution. The record also lists CWE-119 and the CVSS 3.0 vector AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H. References attached to the NVD entry include Apple support advisory HT207275 and SecurityFocus BID 94431.

Sources and references

Verified primary and authoritative sources

  • CVE-2016-4683 CVE Program record

    Publisher, destination, and source semantics verified

    URL: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2016-4683

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

  • CVE-2016-4683 NVD vulnerability detail

    Publisher, destination, and source semantics verified

    URL: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2016-4683

    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.