CVE-2016-1821

HIGH

macOS < 10.11.5 - Remote Code Execution or Denial of Service via Crafted App

Title source: llm
STIX 2.1

Exploitation Summary

EIP tracks 1 public exploit for CVE-2016-1821. PoCs published by Google Security Research.

AI-analyzed exploit summary This exploit leverages a NULL pointer dereference in IOAudioEngineUserClient on macOS, allowing RIP control via a race condition between thread operations and IOServiceClose. It maps the NULL page as read-write to facilitate the attack.

Description

IOAudioFamily in Apple OS X before 10.11.5 allows attackers to execute arbitrary code in a privileged context or cause a denial of service (NULL pointer dereference) via a crafted app.

Exploits (1)

exploitdb WORKING POC VERIFIED
by Google Security Research · cdososx
https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/39926

This exploit leverages a NULL pointer dereference in IOAudioEngineUserClient on macOS, allowing RIP control via a race condition between thread operations and IOServiceClose. It maps the NULL page as read-write to facilitate the attack.

Classification
Working Poc 95%
Attack Type
Lpe
Complexity
Moderate
Reliability
Racy
Target: macOS (tested on OS X 10.11.4)
No auth needed
Prerequisites: macOS with vulnerable IOAudioEngineUserClient · ability to execute arbitrary code on the target system
devstral-2 · analyzed Feb 16, 2026 Full analysis →

References (6)

Core 6
Core References
Vendor Advisory x_refsource_confirm
https://support.apple.com/HT206567
Vendor Advisory vendor-advisory x_refsource_apple
http://lists.apple.com/archives/security-announce/2016/May/msg00004.html
Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry vdb-entry x_refsource_bid
http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/90696
Exploit, Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry exploit x_refsource_exploit-db
https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/39926/
Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry vdb-entry x_refsource_sectrack
http://www.securitytracker.com/id/1035895

Scores

CVSS v3 7.8
EPSS 0.0176
EPSS Percentile 83.1%
Attack Vector LOCAL
CVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

Details

Status published
Products (1)
apple/mac_os_x < 10.11.4
Published May 20, 2016
Tracked Since Feb 18, 2026