PatchSiren cyber security CVE debrief
CVE-2016-7611 Apple CVE debrief
CVE-2016-7611 is a high-severity Apple WebKit memory corruption issue that can let a remote attacker execute arbitrary code or crash the affected app when a user visits a crafted website. The supplied corpus ties the issue to multiple Apple products, including iOS, Safari, iCloud, and iTunes, and shows official Apple-linked remediation references in NVD. Because exploitation requires user interaction, the practical risk is highest where users regularly browse untrusted sites or where vulnerable Apple software remains unpatched.
- Vendor
- Apple
- Product
- CVE-2016-7611
- 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
Apple users and administrators running affected iOS, Safari, iCloud, or iTunes versions should care most, especially enterprise fleets managed through MDM and environments where users browse arbitrary web content. Security teams responsible for endpoint patching should prioritize this advisory because the flaw is reachable over the network through web content and has code-execution impact.
Technical summary
The vulnerability is a WebKit memory corruption flaw (CWE-119) triggered by a crafted website. The CVSS vector in the corpus is AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H, which indicates remote reachability, no privileges required, but user interaction needed. The reported impact includes arbitrary code execution and denial of service through application crash. The source corpus lists affected versions in the CVE description as iOS before 10.2, Safari before 10.0.2, iCloud before 6.1, and iTunes before 12.5.4, while the NVD CPE criteria in the same corpus use slightly different cutoffs for some products.
Defensive priority
High priority. Patch promptly because the flaw is remotely reachable via web content and can lead to code execution on affected Apple software once a user visits a malicious page. Treat it as urgent for internet-facing or broadly used browsing environments.
Recommended defensive actions
- Update iOS to 10.2 or later on affected devices.
- Update Safari to 10.0.2 or later on affected systems.
- Update iCloud to 6.1 or later where applicable.
- Update iTunes to 12.5.4 or later where applicable.
- Confirm Apple security updates are fully applied across managed endpoints before allowing routine web browsing.
- Restrict exposure to untrusted web content until patching is complete, especially on devices that access high-value accounts.
- Monitor for unexpected browser/app crashes on older Apple software, which may indicate exposure to the flaw before remediation.
Evidence notes
The supplied corpus identifies the issue as a WebKit memory corruption vulnerability in Apple products and explicitly states that it can be triggered by a crafted website, leading to arbitrary code execution or denial of service. The corpus also includes official CVE/NVD records and Apple-linked remediation references. One notable corpus detail is that the narrative version cutoffs and the NVD CPE version cutoffs do not perfectly match for every product, so defenders should rely on the relevant Apple update guidance for the exact installed product line while treating the issue as fixed only on the listed or newer versions.
Official resources
Public CVE record published on 2017-02-20. The supplied NVD source item was last modified on 2026-05-13, which should be treated as metadata update timing rather than the vulnerability date.