CVE-2026-20628 is a high-severity vulnerability affecting various Apple operating systems, including iOS, iPadOS, macOS, tvOS, visionOS, and watchOS. This vulnerability allows an app to potentially break out of its sandbox due to a permissions issue that has been addressed with additional restrictions. The CVSS score for this vulnerability is 7.1, indicating a high level of risk to organizations that utilize these platforms.
Organizations should prioritize patching immediately to prevent unauthorized access to sensitive data. The vulnerability was published on February 11, 2026, and impacts multiple versions across affected products. The urgency for defenders to apply updates is crucial, as attackers may leverage this vulnerability to gain elevated access.
The scope of the vulnerability remains unchanged, with a high confidentiality and integrity impact but no availability impact. With user interaction required for exploitation, organizations must remain vigilant and ensure that their users are informed about the necessary updates.
This vulnerability affects all versions prior to the patches released in iOS 18.7.5, iPadOS 18.7.5, macOS Sequoia 15.7.4, macOS Sonoma 14.8.4, tvOS 26.3, visionOS 26.3, and watchOS 26.3. Organizations are advised to review their systems and apply the necessary updates promptly.
Vulnerability Details
CVE-2026-20628 is classified as a permissions issue, specifically categorized under CWE-284. The vulnerability allows an application to escape its sandbox due to insufficient restrictions. The CVSS score of 7.1 indicates a high severity, highlighting the potential risk it poses to organizations that run affected Apple operating systems.
The affected products include iOS, iPadOS, macOS, tvOS, visionOS, and watchOS, with a publication date of February 11, 2026. Organizations using any of these systems should ensure they are running patched versions to mitigate the risk.
Technical Analysis
The root cause of CVE-2026-20628 is a permissions issue that has been addressed by implementing additional restrictions. The attack vector is local, and the complexity is low, meaning that an attacker may exploit this vulnerability with minimal effort if the conditions are met. No privileges are required to exploit this vulnerability, but user interaction is necessary.
The impacts of this vulnerability include high confidentiality and integrity impacts, as sensitive information could be accessed or modified by an unauthorized application. However, there are no availability impacts reported, meaning that the systems themselves remain operational.
Risk & Impact Analysis
Risk to organizations includes the potential for unauthorized access to sensitive data, which could lead to data breaches, regulatory penalties, and loss of customer trust. The blast radius of this vulnerability is significant due to the widespread use of Apple products across both personal and enterprise environments.
Given the high severity level of this vulnerability and the fact that it is not currently listed in the KEV catalog, organizations should address this issue in their priority patch cycle. The urgency is pressing, as attackers may leverage this vulnerability to exploit systems that have not been updated.
Exploitation Status
Signal | Status |
|---|---|
Known Exploit | No |
Public PoC | No |
Actively Exploited | No |
Ransomware Use | No |
Affected Versions
The affected versions for this vulnerability include all versions prior to the vendor patches in iOS 18.7.5 and iPadOS 18.7.5, macOS Sequoia 15.7.4, macOS Sonoma 14.8.4, tvOS 26.3, visionOS 26.3, and watchOS 26.3. Organizations should ensure that they update their systems to the latest versions to mitigate potential risks.
Mitigation & Remediation
To mitigate this vulnerability, organizations should apply the latest patches available for their systems. For Apple products, this includes updates to iOS 18.7.5, iPadOS 18.7.5, macOS Sequoia 15.7.4, macOS Sonoma 14.8.4, tvOS 26.3, visionOS 26.3, and watchOS 26.3. Organizations may also consider implementing additional security measures such as application sandboxing and user education on identifying suspicious applications.
For more detailed guidance on security practices, organizations can refer to resources like the application security assessment service, which can help identify weaknesses in configurations and enhance overall security postures.
Detection Guidance
Organizations should monitor logs for any unauthorized access attempts that could indicate exploitation of this vulnerability. Behavioral anomalies in applications, particularly those related to sandbox escape attempts, should be investigated thoroughly. It is also advisable to implement network signatures that can detect unusual application behaviors.
AppSecure Threat Intelligence Insight
CVE-2026-20628 highlights the ongoing challenges in maintaining application security, particularly in environments that rely on user interaction for security postures. The low EPSS score of 0.000110000 indicates that while the immediate risk may be low, the potential for exploitation remains present, emphasizing the need for vigilance.
As organizations adopt more diverse Apple products, understanding the implications of vulnerabilities such as CVE-2026-20628 becomes critical for comprehensive security strategies. Regular updates and proactive security assessments are essential in mitigating risks associated with such vulnerabilities.
For further insights into improving security practices, organizations can explore our penetration testing methodology and learn about common vulnerabilities and how to address them. By enhancing security awareness and implementing robust security measures, organizations can better protect themselves against future threats.
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
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