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VulnerabilityPublished Updated

CVE-2026-20603: Apple macOS · Improper Access Control

Affects Apple macOSSource CVE Database V5

0

Not known to be exploited · CVSS 4.4 Medium : upgrade to 26.3 when convenient.

Data as of 26 Oct 2026, 10:12 UTC

CVSS 3.1 base score
4.4Medium
How severe the flaw is on the 0–10 CVSS scale.
EPSS
0.1% chance of exploitation in 30 days – higher than 4% of CVEsExploit Prediction Scoring System: the likelihood attackers will use this flaw soon.
Patch
Available – fixed in 26.3
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N

Exploitation evidence

  1. Disclosed: evidence found.

    CVE published 11 Feb 2026

  2. Detectable: no evidence on record.

    No public nuclei template indexed

  3. Weaponised: no evidence on record.

    No public exploit code indexed in Metasploit or Exploit-DB

  4. Exploited in the wild: no evidence on record.

    Not in CISA KEV and no source reports exploitation

  5. Observed by OffSeq Mirage: no evidence on record.

    No attack traffic recorded by OffSeq Mirage sensors

A missing step is not evidence of safety. Sources: cve.org (opens in a new tab), the Metasploit, Exploit-DB and nuclei-templates index as of 26 Oct 2026.

What to do

Upgrade Apple macOS to 26.3.

Affected software

ProductAffectedFixed in
ApplemacOSAffected
  • <26.3
Fixed in
  • 26.3

AI-suggested

To mitigate CVE-2026-20603, organizations should promptly update all macOS systems to version Tahoe 26.3 or later, where the vulnerability is fixed. Beyond patching, administrators should enforce strict controls on root access, limiting it to trusted applications and users only. Implement application whitelisting and monitor for unauthorized root-level processes. Conduct regular audits of privileged accounts and review installed software for potential malicious root-level apps. Employ endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions capable of detecting anomalous behavior at the root level. Where possible, use macOS security features such as System Integrity Protection (SIP) and secure boot to reduce the risk of unauthorized root access. Educate system administrators on the risks of running untrusted software with elevated privileges. Finally, maintain robust incident response plans to quickly address any suspected compromise involving root-level access.

Description

This issue was addressed with improved redaction of sensitive information. This issue is fixed in macOS Tahoe 26.3. An app with root privileges may be able to access private information.

References

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