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PatchSiren cyber security CVE debrief

CVE-2016-7641 Apple CVE debrief

CVE-2016-7641 is a WebKit memory-corruption issue affecting multiple Apple products. According to the CVE description, a crafted website could trigger arbitrary code execution or a denial of service (application crash). NVD rates the issue 8.8 HIGH with network attack vector and required user interaction, which makes patching important for users who browse untrusted web content and for administrators managing Apple endpoints and browsers.

Vendor
Apple
Product
Unknown
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 endpoint administrators, security operations teams, MDM/patch management owners, and users of affected iOS, Safari, iCloud, or iTunes versions should care. The risk is highest where devices regularly open untrusted websites or where patching lag leaves older Apple clients exposed.

Technical summary

The source corpus describes a WebKit memory corruption flaw that can be triggered remotely through a crafted website. NVD assigns CWE-119 and CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H, indicating a network-reachable issue that does not require privileges but does require user interaction. The CVE text lists affected product lines as iOS before 10.2, Safari before 10.0.2, iCloud before 6.1, and iTunes before 12.5.4; NVD CPE criteria further enumerate vulnerable versions as iPhone OS through 10.1.1, Safari through 10.0.1, iCloud through 6.0.1, and iTunes through 12.5.3.

Defensive priority

High for any managed Apple fleet, especially internet-facing or web-browsing endpoints. Because exploitation is user-triggered but can lead to code execution, this should be prioritized as a rapid patch-and-verify item.

Recommended defensive actions

  • Update affected Apple products to the fixed releases referenced by the vendor advisories and NVD record.
  • Inventory iOS, Safari, iCloud, and iTunes versions to find systems still at or below the vulnerable ranges.
  • Prioritize patching for devices that routinely browse external sites or handle untrusted web content.
  • Verify remediation using version checks after update rollout, and track any devices that cannot be updated immediately.
  • Monitor for unusual browser crashes or security telemetry that may indicate attempts to trigger WebKit memory corruption.
  • Use standard hardening controls such as least privilege, managed update enforcement, and rapid browser/app update cycles.

Evidence notes

All substantive claims are taken from the supplied CVE description, NVD metadata, and the referenced Apple/vendor-advisory links listed in the source corpus. The corpus provides both a narrative version boundary in the description and CPE version ceilings in NVD; both are preserved here because they do not exactly match. No exploit code, reproduction steps, or content from unreviewed external pages is included.

Sources and references

Verified primary and authoritative sources

  • CVE-2016-7641 CVE Program record

    Publisher, destination, and source semantics verified

    URL: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2016-7641

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

  • CVE-2016-7641 NVD vulnerability detail

    Publisher, destination, and source semantics verified

    URL: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2016-7641

    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.