CVE-2026-23866
WhatsApp iOS/Android Media Content URL Injection Vulnerability
Description
Incomplete validation of AI rich response messages for Instagram Reels in WhatsApp for iOS v2.25.8.0 to v2.26.15.72 and WhatsApp for Android v2.25.8.0 to v2.26.7.10 could have allowed a user to trigger processing of media content from an arbitrary URL on another user’s device, including triggering OS-controlled custom URL scheme handlers. We have not seen evidence of exploitation in the wild.
INFO
Published Date :
May 1, 2026, 4:16 p.m.
Last Modified :
May 11, 2026, 8 p.m.
Remotely Exploit :
Yes !
Source :
[email protected]
CVSS Scores
| Score | Version | Severity | Vector | Exploitability Score | Impact Score | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CVSS 3.1 | MEDIUM | [email protected] |
Solution
- Update WhatsApp on iOS to the latest version.
- Update WhatsApp on Android to the latest version.
References to Advisories, Solutions, and Tools
Here, you will find a curated list of external links that provide in-depth
information, practical solutions, and valuable tools related to
CVE-2026-23866.
| URL | Resource |
|---|---|
| https://www.facebook.com/security/advisories/cve-2026-23866 | Third Party Advisory |
| https://www.whatsapp.com/security/advisories/2026 | Vendor Advisory |
CWE - Common Weakness Enumeration
While CVE identifies
specific instances of vulnerabilities, CWE categorizes the common flaws or
weaknesses that can lead to vulnerabilities. CVE-2026-23866 is
associated with the following CWEs:
Common Attack Pattern Enumeration and Classification (CAPEC)
Common Attack Pattern Enumeration and Classification
(CAPEC)
stores attack patterns, which are descriptions of the common attributes and
approaches employed by adversaries to exploit the CVE-2026-23866
weaknesses.
We scan GitHub repositories to detect new proof-of-concept exploits. Following list is a collection of public exploits and proof-of-concepts, which have been published on GitHub (sorted by the most recently updated).
Results are limited to the first 15 repositories due to potential performance issues.
The following list is the news that have been mention
CVE-2026-23866 vulnerability anywhere in the article.
-
security.nl
WhatsApp dicht spoofinglek dat uitvoerbare bestanden kon vermommen
WhatsApp heeft een spoofinglek in WhatsApp voor Windows gepatcht waardoor het mogelijk was om uitvoerbare bestanden als een ander soort bestand te vermommen. Daarnaast is een beveiligingslek in WhatsA ... Read more
-
CybersecurityNews
WhatsApp Vulnerability Lets Attackers Leverage Instagram Reels to Execute Malicious URLs
Meta has disclosed a medium-severity security vulnerability in WhatsApp that could allow threat actors to exploit Instagram Reels integration to trigger arbitrary URL processing on victim devices, pot ... Read more
The following table lists the changes that have been made to the
CVE-2026-23866 vulnerability over time.
Vulnerability history details can be useful for understanding the evolution of a vulnerability, and for identifying the most recent changes that may impact the vulnerability's severity, exploitability, or other characteristics.
-
Initial Analysis by [email protected]
May. 11, 2026
Action Type Old Value New Value Added CPE Configuration OR *cpe:2.3:a:whatsapp:whatsapp:*:*:*:*:*:android:*:* versions from (including) 2.25.8.0 up to (including) 2.26.7.10 *cpe:2.3:a:whatsapp:whatsapp:*:*:*:*:*:iphone_os:*:* versions from (including) 2.25.8.0 up to (including) 2.26.15.72 Added Reference Type Facebook, Inc.: https://www.facebook.com/security/advisories/cve-2026-23866 Types: Third Party Advisory Added Reference Type Facebook, Inc.: https://www.whatsapp.com/security/advisories/2026 Types: Vendor Advisory -
CVE Modified by 134c704f-9b21-4f2e-91b3-4a467353bcc0
May. 01, 2026
Action Type Old Value New Value Added CWE CWE-940 -
CVE Modified by [email protected]
May. 01, 2026
Action Type Old Value New Value Added CVSS V3.1 AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:N/A:N -
New CVE Received by [email protected]
May. 01, 2026
Action Type Old Value New Value Added Description Incomplete validation of AI rich response messages for Instagram Reels in WhatsApp for iOS v2.25.8.0 to v2.26.15.72 and WhatsApp for Android v2.25.8.0 to v2.26.7.10 could have allowed a user to trigger processing of media content from an arbitrary URL on another user’s device, including triggering OS-controlled custom URL scheme handlers. We have not seen evidence of exploitation in the wild. Added Reference https://www.facebook.com/security/advisories/cve-2026-23866 Added Reference https://www.whatsapp.com/security/advisories/2026