CVE-2026-20610: Apple macOS · An app may be able to gain root privileges
Affects Apple macOSSource CVE Database V5
Not known to be exploited · CVSS 7.8 High : upgrade to 26.3 soon.
Data as of 25 Oct 2026, 19:02 UTC
- EPSS
- 0.2% chance of exploitation in 30 days – higher than 12% 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:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:HExploitation evidence
Disclosed: evidence found.
CVE published 11 Feb 2026
Detectable: no evidence on record.
No public nuclei template indexed
Weaponised: no evidence on record.
No public exploit code indexed in Metasploit or Exploit-DB
Exploited in the wildExploited: no evidence on record.
Not in CISA KEV and no source reports exploitation
Observed by OffSeq MirageSeen by 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 2026-10-25.
What to do
Upgrade Apple macOS to 26.3.
Affected software
| Product | Affected | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|
| ApplemacOS | Affected
| Fixed in
|
AI-suggested
To mitigate CVE-2026-20610, organizations should immediately update all affected macOS systems to version Tahoe 26.3 or later, where the vulnerability is fixed. Beyond patching, organizations should implement strict local user privilege management, ensuring that users and applications operate with the least privileges necessary. Employ endpoint protection solutions that monitor for suspicious local privilege escalation attempts and symlink manipulations. Regularly audit and restrict the installation of untrusted or unsigned applications to reduce the risk of malicious local code execution. Use macOS security features such as System Integrity Protection (SIP) and Apple’s notarization requirements to limit unauthorized modifications. Additionally, monitor system logs for unusual file access patterns or privilege escalation attempts. For environments where immediate patching is not feasible, consider isolating macOS systems or restricting local user access to minimize exposure. Finally, maintain an incident response plan that includes procedures for detecting and responding to local privilege escalation incidents.
Description
This issue was addressed with improved handling of symlinks. This issue is fixed in macOS Tahoe 26.3. An app may be able to gain root privileges.