CVE-2026-28880 is a medium-severity vulnerability affecting multiple Apple operating systems, including iOS, iPadOS, macOS, and visionOS. This vulnerability allows applications to enumerate a user's installed apps, posing a risk to user privacy. The CVSS score for this vulnerability is 6.5, indicating a medium severity level that necessitates prompt attention from security teams.
The vulnerability was published on March 25, 2026, and has been analyzed for its potential impact on users and organizations. Apple has addressed this issue in several updates, including iOS 18.7.7, iPadOS 18.7.7, macOS Sequoia 15.7.5, macOS Sonoma 14.8.5, macOS Tahoe 26.4, and visionOS 26.4. Organizations using affected versions should prioritize updating to these versions to mitigate the risk.
Risk to organizations includes unauthorized access to sensitive user information. As such, it is critical that organizations remain vigilant and ensure that they have the latest patches applied. The urgency for defenders is classified as medium, suggesting that this issue should be addressed in the next patch cycle.
Currently, there is no known exploit available for this vulnerability, and it is not included in the Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog. However, organizations should be proactive in their approach to vulnerability management and remediation.
Vulnerability Details
This vulnerability allows an app to enumerate a user's installed applications, which is a permissions issue addressed with additional restrictions. The CVSS v3.1 vector string for this vulnerability is CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:N/A:L. Its base score of 6.5 indicates a medium severity, with impacts on confidentiality being low, and low impacts on availability.
The affected products include iOS, iPadOS, macOS, and visionOS, specifically versions prior to the patches released as mentioned earlier. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-284, which pertains to improper access control.
Technical Analysis
The root cause of this vulnerability stems from insufficient restrictions on permissions, allowing applications to access sensitive information about other installed applications on the device. The attack vector is classified as network-based, with low complexity, meaning that an attacker does not need advanced skills to exploit this vulnerability. No privileges are required for exploitation, and user interaction is not necessary.
The confidentiality impact is rated as low, as sensitive data may be exposed, while the integrity and availability impacts are rated as none and low, respectively. Organizations should understand the implications of this vulnerability and the potential for unauthorized information disclosure.
Risk & Impact Analysis
The risk associated with CVE-2026-28880 is significant due to the potential for unauthorized access to installed applications, which could lead to further exploitation or data leakage. Organizations utilizing affected Apple products must assess their deployments actively, particularly if sensitive applications are installed.
The urgency of remediation is classified as medium, indicating that while this vulnerability does not require immediate action, it should be addressed in the upcoming patch cycle. The blast radius includes any organization using affected Apple products, making it crucial for security teams to stay informed and prepared.
Exploitation Status
Signal | Status |
|---|---|
Known Exploit | No |
Public PoC | No |
Actively Exploited | No |
Ransomware Use | No |
Affected Versions
The vulnerability affects the following versions of Apple products: iOS versions prior to 18.7.7 and between 26.0 and 26.4, iPadOS versions prior to 18.7.7 and between 26.0 and 26.4, macOS versions from 14.0 to 14.8.5, from 15.0 to 15.7.5, and between 26.0 and 26.4, and visionOS versions prior to 26.4.
Mitigation & Remediation
Organizations are urged to apply the latest updates to their Apple devices to mitigate this vulnerability. The following versions include the necessary fixes: iOS 18.7.7, iPadOS 18.7.7, macOS Sequoia 15.7.5, macOS Sonoma 14.8.5, macOS Tahoe 26.4, and visionOS 26.4. If the patch is unavailable, organizations should consider implementing additional security measures such as restricting access to sensitive applications and monitoring for unusual application behavior.
To ensure comprehensive security, organizations should also perform regular security assessments and consider engaging in penetration testing to identify and remediate similar weaknesses proactively.
Detection Guidance
To detect potential exploitation of this vulnerability, organizations should monitor logs for unusual access patterns to installed applications. Behavioral anomalies may indicate attempts to enumerate installed apps. Regular audits of application permissions can also help identify applications that should not have access to sensitive information.
AppSecure Threat Intelligence Insight
The longer-term significance of CVE-2026-28880 lies in the implications of improper access control in mobile and desktop operating systems. It highlights the need for robust permission management in application development to prevent unauthorized information disclosure.
Security teams should take this opportunity to reassess their application security practices and ensure that proper controls are in place to mitigate similar vulnerabilities. By engaging in vulnerability management programs, organizations can better prepare for and respond to future security challenges.
Furthermore, continuous improvement through penetration testing methodologies can bolster defenses against evolving threats in the landscape.
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
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