CVE-2016-7636 Apple CVE debrief

Who should care

Apple device administrators, mobile device management teams, endpoint security teams, and network teams responsible for traffic paths that could influence outbound certificate-validation or OCSP requests.

Technical summary

The supplied record describes a network-reachable issue with no privileges and no user interaction required, but with high attack complexity. NVD maps it to CVSS 3.0 AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H and CWE-20. The vulnerability affects Apple's Security component and is described as involving OCSP responder URLs, where a MITM attacker can induce an application crash on affected Apple operating systems.

Defensive priority

Medium priority. Patch during routine Apple maintenance windows, with extra attention for fleets that depend on device availability. The supplied data indicates a crash/DoS condition rather than code execution or data exposure.

Recommended defensive actions

• Update affected Apple systems beyond the vulnerable versions listed in the CVE description.
• Prioritize iOS, macOS, and watchOS devices that are externally exposed or frequently used on untrusted networks.
• Review any network paths or security controls that could interfere with certificate validation traffic and ensure they are not introducing unintended instability.
• Track Apple security advisories linked from the NVD record for platform-specific remediation guidance.
• Confirm remediation by verifying device OS versions are newer than the affected ranges in the CVE record.

Evidence notes

The CVE description states that iOS before 10.2, macOS before 10.12.2, and watchOS before 3.1.3 are affected, and that the issue is in Apple's Security component with OCSP responder URL vectors. The supplied NVD record classifies the weakness as CWE-20 and gives CVSS 3.0 AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H. The same NVD record also includes CPE criteria listing iPhone OS through 10.1.1, macOS through 10.12.1, and watchOS through 2.2.2; this is a slight boundary discrepancy versus the prose description, so both are preserved here as supplied. The record metadata shows a later modified timestamp (2026-05-13), which should not be treated as the vulnerability's disclosure date.

Official resources