CVE-2016-7661

HIGH

iPhone OS < 10.2 and macOS < 10.12.2 - Local Privilege Escalation via Power Management Mach Port Name References

Title source: llm
STIX 2.1

Exploitation Summary

EIP tracks 2 public exploits for CVE-2016-7661. PoCs published by Google Security Research.

AI-analyzed exploit summary This exploit leverages a Mach port deallocation vulnerability in powerd (CVE-2016-7661) by spoofing a MACH_NOTIFY_DEAD_NAME message to force the privileged process to drop a reference on an attacker-controlled Mach port, potentially leading to privilege escalation.

Description

An issue was discovered in certain Apple products. iOS before 10.2 is affected. macOS before 10.12.2 is affected. The issue involves the "Power Management" component. It allows local users to gain privileges via unspecified vectors related to Mach port name references.

Exploits (2)

exploitdb WORKING POC VERIFIED
by Google Security Research · cdosmultiple
https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/40958

This exploit leverages a Mach port deallocation vulnerability in powerd (CVE-2016-7661) by spoofing a MACH_NOTIFY_DEAD_NAME message to force the privileged process to drop a reference on an attacker-controlled Mach port, potentially leading to privilege escalation.

Classification
Working Poc 90%
Attack Type
Lpe
Complexity
Moderate
Reliability
Reliable
Target: Apple macOS (PowerManagement subsystem in powerd)
No auth needed
Prerequisites: Access to the target system · Ability to send Mach messages to the powerd service
devstral-2 · analyzed Feb 16, 2026 Full analysis →
exploitdb WORKING POC VERIFIED
by Google Security Research · textlocalmultiple
https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/40931

This exploit targets a race condition in the `set_dp_control_port` MIG method in macOS/iOS kernels, allowing root-to-kernel privilege escalation. The PoC demonstrates a race condition leading to a use-after-free or reference count manipulation, enabling arbitrary kernel memory manipulation.

Classification
Working Poc 95%
Attack Type
Lpe
Complexity
Complex
Reliability
Racy
Target: macOS 10.12 (16A323) and iOS 10.1.1 (14B100)
No auth needed
Prerequisites: Physical or remote access to a vulnerable macOS/iOS device · Xcode for building the exploit · iOS binaries for arm64 devices
devstral-2 · analyzed Feb 16, 2026 Full analysis →

References (6)

Core 6
Core References
Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry vdb-entry x_refsource_bid
http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/94906
Exploit, Third Party Advisory exploit x_refsource_exploit-db
https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/40931/
Vendor Advisory x_refsource_confirm
https://support.apple.com/HT207422
Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry vdb-entry x_refsource_sectrack
http://www.securitytracker.com/id/1037469
Exploit, Third Party Advisory exploit x_refsource_exploit-db
https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/40958/
Vendor Advisory x_refsource_confirm
https://support.apple.com/HT207423

Scores

CVSS v3 7.8
EPSS 0.0019
EPSS Percentile 40.5%
Attack Vector LOCAL
CVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

Details

CWE
CWE-264
Status published
Products (2)
apple/iphone_os < 10.1.1
apple/mac_os_x < 10.12.1
Published Feb 20, 2017
Tracked Since Feb 18, 2026