Race Condition Vulnerability in Apple macOS and iOS Products
CVE-2026-20677

9CRITICAL

Key Information:

Vendor

Apple

Vendor
CVE Published:
11 February 2026

What is CVE-2026-20677?

CVE-2026-20677 is a race condition vulnerability identified in various Apple macOS and iOS products, including macOS Tahoe, macOS Sonoma, iOS, and iPadOS. This vulnerability arises from inadequate handling of symbolic links, which can allow a malicious shortcut to potentially bypass established sandbox restrictions. These sandbox protections are crucial for isolating apps to prevent unauthorized access to system resources and user data. If exploited, this vulnerability could compromise the integrity of applications and expose sensitive information, leading to a negative impact on organizational security.

Potential impact of CVE-2026-20677

  1. Bypassing Security Mechanisms: The vulnerability allows shortcuts to sidestep sandbox restrictions, which can enable unauthorized access to system-level resources and sensitive data, potentially leading to further exploitation by malicious actors.

  2. Data Breaches: Organizations may experience data breaches resulting from unauthorized access enabled by this vulnerability, resulting in the exposure of proprietary information, personal user data, and operational details that could be exploited for financial gain.

  3. Increased Attack Surface: With the ability to manipulate access controls, the existence of CVE-2026-20677 can enhance the attack surface for cybercriminals, making it easier for them to leverage other vulnerabilities or weaknesses within the affected systems to cause greater harm.

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Affected Version(s)

iOS and iPadOS < 26.3

iOS and iPadOS < 18.7

macOS < 26.3

References

CVSS V3.1

Score:
9
Severity:
CRITICAL
Confidentiality:
High
Integrity:
High
Availability:
High
Attack Vector:
Network
Attack Complexity:
High
Privileges Required:
None
User Interaction:
None
Scope:
Changed

Timeline

  • Vulnerability published

  • Vulnerability Reserved

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