CVE-2012-3726
Description
Double free vulnerability in ImageIO in Apple iOS before 6 allows remote code execution or denial of service via a crafted JPEG image.
AI Insight
LLM-synthesized narrative grounded in this CVE's description and references.
Double free vulnerability in ImageIO in Apple iOS before 6 allows remote code execution or denial of service via a crafted JPEG image.
Vulnerability
A double free vulnerability exists in the ImageIO framework of Apple iOS versions prior to 6. The flaw occurs when processing a specially crafted JPEG image, leading to memory corruption. Affected versions include iOS 5.x and earlier on iPhone 3GS and later, iPod touch (4th generation) and later, and iPad 2 and later [1].
Exploitation
An attacker can exploit this vulnerability by delivering a malicious JPEG image to the target device through vectors such as email, web browsing, or MMS. No authentication is required, but user interaction (e.g., opening the image) is necessary. The crafted image triggers a double free in ImageIO's JPEG parsing code, causing memory corruption that can be leveraged for code execution.
Impact
Successful exploitation allows an attacker to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the affected application (e.g., MobileMail or Safari), potentially leading to full device compromise. Alternatively, the corruption can cause a denial of service via application crash. The impact is limited to the application's sandbox, but code execution could enable further escalation.
Mitigation
Apple addressed this vulnerability in iOS 6, released on September 19, 2012 [1]. Users should update to iOS 6 or later via iTunes. No workarounds are available for unpatched versions. The vulnerability is not listed in CISA's Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog.
AI Insight generated on May 24, 2026. Synthesized from this CVE's description and the cited reference URLs; citations are validated against the source bundle.
Affected products
41cpe:2.3:o:apple:iphone_os:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*+ 39 more
- cpe:2.3:o:apple:iphone_os:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*range: <=5.1.1
- cpe:2.3:o:apple:iphone_os:1.0.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
- cpe:2.3:o:apple:iphone_os:1.0.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
- cpe:2.3:o:apple:iphone_os:1.0.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
- cpe:2.3:o:apple:iphone_os:1.1.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
- cpe:2.3:o:apple:iphone_os:1.1.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
- cpe:2.3:o:apple:iphone_os:1.1.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
- cpe:2.3:o:apple:iphone_os:1.1.3:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
- cpe:2.3:o:apple:iphone_os:1.1.4:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
- cpe:2.3:o:apple:iphone_os:1.1.5:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
- cpe:2.3:o:apple:iphone_os:2.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
- cpe:2.3:o:apple:iphone_os:2.0.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
- cpe:2.3:o:apple:iphone_os:2.0.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
- cpe:2.3:o:apple:iphone_os:2.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
- cpe:2.3:o:apple:iphone_os:2.1.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
- cpe:2.3:o:apple:iphone_os:2.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
- cpe:2.3:o:apple:iphone_os:2.2.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
- cpe:2.3:o:apple:iphone_os:3.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
- cpe:2.3:o:apple:iphone_os:3.0.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
- cpe:2.3:o:apple:iphone_os:3.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
- cpe:2.3:o:apple:iphone_os:3.1.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
- cpe:2.3:o:apple:iphone_os:3.1.3:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
- cpe:2.3:o:apple:iphone_os:3.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
- cpe:2.3:o:apple:iphone_os:3.2.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
- cpe:2.3:o:apple:iphone_os:3.2.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
- cpe:2.3:o:apple:iphone_os:4.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
- cpe:2.3:o:apple:iphone_os:4.0.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
- cpe:2.3:o:apple:iphone_os:4.0.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
- cpe:2.3:o:apple:iphone_os:4.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
- cpe:2.3:o:apple:iphone_os:4.2.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
- cpe:2.3:o:apple:iphone_os:4.2.5:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
- cpe:2.3:o:apple:iphone_os:4.2.8:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
- cpe:2.3:o:apple:iphone_os:4.3.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
- cpe:2.3:o:apple:iphone_os:4.3.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
- cpe:2.3:o:apple:iphone_os:4.3.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
- cpe:2.3:o:apple:iphone_os:4.3.3:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
- cpe:2.3:o:apple:iphone_os:4.3.5:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
- cpe:2.3:o:apple:iphone_os:5.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
- cpe:2.3:o:apple:iphone_os:5.0.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
- cpe:2.3:o:apple:iphone_os:5.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
- Range: <6
Patches
0No patches discovered yet.
Vulnerability mechanics
AI mechanics synthesis has not run for this CVE yet.
References
3- lists.apple.com/archives/security-announce/2012/Sep/msg00003.htmlnvdVendor Advisory
- support.apple.com/kb/HT5503nvdVendor Advisory
- exchange.xforce.ibmcloud.com/vulnerabilities/78716nvd
News mentions
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