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PatchSiren cyber security CVE debrief

CVE-2016-7620 Apple CVE debrief

CVE-2016-7620 is a low-severity information disclosure issue in Apple’s IOSurface component affecting macOS before 10.12.2. According to the NVD record and Apple’s advisory reference, a local user could obtain sensitive kernel memory-layout information through unspecified vectors. The main security concern is that this leaks internal address-layout details rather than directly affecting integrity or availability.

Vendor
Apple
Product
Unknown
CVSS
LOW 3.3
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 organizations that allow local user access on affected Apple systems. It is especially relevant where local attackers, untrusted users, or post-compromise conditions could benefit from kernel information disclosure.

Technical summary

The NVD record classifies the issue under CWE-200 and assigns CVSS 3.0 vector AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:N/A:N. The vulnerable scope in the source data is macOS versions before 10.12.2, with IOSurface identified as the affected component. Public details do not describe the exact triggering path, only that sensitive kernel memory-layout information may be exposed via unspecified vectors.

Defensive priority

Medium-Low. The flaw is limited to local attackers and is an information disclosure only, but kernel memory-layout leaks can still aid follow-on exploitation. Prioritize patching affected systems to 10.12.2 or later, especially where local attacker exposure is realistic.

Recommended defensive actions

  • Upgrade affected macOS systems to 10.12.2 or later.
  • Inventory endpoints still running macOS versions earlier than 10.12.2.
  • Treat local-user hardening as relevant defense-in-depth, including least privilege and restricting unnecessary interactive access.
  • Monitor Apple security advisories and NVD updates for any changes to affected-version scope or remediation guidance.

Evidence notes

This debrief is based on the NVD CVE record, which lists macOS before 10.12.2 as vulnerable and identifies IOSurface as the affected component. Apple’s advisory link is included in the source references, but the public record provides only unspecified vectors and no additional technical trigger details. No exploit mechanics are included here.

Sources and references

Verified primary and authoritative sources

  • CVE-2016-7620 CVE Program record

    Publisher, destination, and source semantics verified

    URL: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2016-7620

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

  • CVE-2016-7620 NVD vulnerability detail

    Publisher, destination, and source semantics verified

    URL: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2016-7620

    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.