CVE-2026-20626
Privilege Escalation in Apple OSes via Insufficient Validation
Publication date: 2026-02-11
Last updated on: 2026-04-02
Assigner: Apple Inc.
Description
Description
CVSS Scores
EPSS Scores
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Meta Information
Affected Vendors & Products
| Vendor | Product | Version / Range |
|---|---|---|
| apple | ipados | to 26.3 (exc) |
| apple | iphone_os | to 26.3 (exc) |
| apple | visionos | to 26.3 (exc) |
| apple | macos | From 15.0 (inc) to 15.7.4 (exc) |
| apple | macos | From 26.0 (inc) to 26.3 (exc) |
Helpful Resources
Exploitability
| CWE ID | Description |
|---|---|
| CWE-862 | The product does not perform an authorization check when an actor attempts to access a resource or perform an action. |
Attack-Flow Graph
AI Powered Q&A
How does this vulnerability affect compliance with common standards and regulations (like GDPR, HIPAA)?:
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How can this vulnerability be detected on my network or system? Can you suggest some commands?
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Can you explain this vulnerability to me?
This vulnerability involves a security issue in certain Apple operating systems where a malicious app may be able to gain root privileges due to insufficient checks.
The issue was addressed by improving these checks and fixed in macOS Sequoia 15.7.4, iOS 26.3, iPadOS 26.3, macOS Tahoe 26.3, and visionOS 26.3.
How can this vulnerability impact me? :
If exploited, this vulnerability could allow a malicious app to gain root privileges on affected Apple devices.
Gaining root privileges means the attacker could have full control over the device, potentially leading to unauthorized access to sensitive data, system modifications, and other malicious activities.
What immediate steps should I take to mitigate this vulnerability?
To mitigate this vulnerability, update your Apple devices to the fixed versions: macOS Sequoia 15.7.4, iOS 26.3, iPadOS 26.3, macOS Tahoe 26.3, or visionOS 26.3.
These updates include improved checks that prevent a malicious app from gaining root privileges.