CVE-2026-20605 is a vulnerability identified in Apple macOS and related Apple operating systems, including iOS and iPadOS. The root cause is improper memory handling that allows a malicious application to crash a critical system process, leading to a denial of service (DoS) condition. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-119, which relates to improper restriction of operations within the bounds of a memory buffer. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 4.6, indicating a medium severity level. The attack vector is physical or local (AV:P), requiring no privileges (PR:N) and no user interaction (UI:N), meaning an attacker with local access can trigger the crash without needing elevated permissions or user actions. The impact is limited to availability, with no confidentiality or integrity compromise. Apple has fixed this issue in macOS Sequoia 15.7.4, Tahoe 26.3, Sonoma 14.8.4, and iOS/iPadOS 18.7.5 by improving memory handling in the affected components. There are no known exploits in the wild at this time, and the vulnerability was publicly disclosed on February 11, 2026. The vulnerability affects unspecified versions prior to the patched releases, so systems running older versions remain at risk. This vulnerability could be leveraged by local attackers or malicious apps to cause system instability or denial of service, potentially disrupting business operations or user productivity.

The primary impact of CVE-2026-20605 is denial of service through crashing critical system processes on Apple devices. Organizations relying on macOS, iOS, or iPadOS devices may experience system instability, forced reboots, or application failures if exploited. This can disrupt business operations, especially in environments with high dependency on Apple hardware such as creative industries, software development, and enterprise mobile deployments. Although the vulnerability does not allow data theft or system compromise, repeated crashes could degrade user trust and productivity. In managed environments, this could increase helpdesk workload and operational costs. The lack of required privileges or user interaction lowers the barrier for exploitation by local attackers or malicious apps, increasing risk in shared or multi-user systems. However, the absence of known exploits in the wild and the medium CVSS score suggest the threat is moderate but should not be ignored.

Organizations should prioritize updating all affected Apple devices to the patched versions: macOS Sequoia 15.7.4, Tahoe 26.3, Sonoma 14.8.4, and iOS/iPadOS 18.7.5. For environments where immediate patching is not feasible, restrict local access to trusted users only and enforce strict app installation policies to prevent untrusted or malicious applications from running. Employ endpoint protection solutions that monitor for abnormal process crashes or suspicious app behavior. Regularly audit and monitor system logs for signs of repeated system process crashes that could indicate exploitation attempts. Educate users about the risks of installing unverified applications. For enterprise deployments, use Mobile Device Management (MDM) tools to enforce update compliance and application whitelisting. Additionally, consider isolating critical systems or limiting physical access to reduce the attack surface. Continuous vulnerability management and timely patching remain the most effective defenses against this vulnerability.