CVE-2026-20612 is a privacy vulnerability in Apple macOS identified under CWE-200 (Exposure of Sensitive Information to an Unauthorized Actor). The issue arises due to inadequate access control checks within the operating system, allowing a malicious or compromised application to access sensitive user data that should otherwise be protected. The vulnerability affects multiple macOS versions prior to the patched releases: macOS Sequoia 15.7.4, macOS Tahoe 26.3, and macOS Sonoma 14.8.4. According to the CVSS 3.1 vector (AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N), exploitation requires local access (AV:L), low attack complexity (AC:L), no privileges (PR:N), and user interaction (UI:R). The scope is unchanged (S:U), and the impact is high on confidentiality (C:H) but none on integrity (I:N) or availability (A:N). This means an attacker can potentially read sensitive user data without altering or disrupting system operations. Apple has addressed the issue by improving access checks to prevent unauthorized data access. No public exploits or active exploitation campaigns have been reported to date. The vulnerability highlights the importance of strict access control enforcement within macOS to protect user privacy against malicious applications.

The primary impact of CVE-2026-20612 is the unauthorized disclosure of sensitive user data on affected macOS systems. This can lead to privacy violations, leakage of personal or corporate information, and potential downstream attacks such as identity theft or targeted phishing. Since the vulnerability does not affect integrity or availability, it does not allow attackers to modify data or disrupt system functionality. However, the confidentiality breach can be significant, especially in environments handling sensitive or regulated data. Organizations relying on macOS devices for business operations or storing sensitive information are at risk of data exposure if the vulnerability is exploited. The requirement for local access and user interaction limits remote exploitation but does not eliminate risk from malicious insiders, compromised devices, or social engineering attacks. The absence of known exploits reduces immediate risk but underscores the need for timely patching to prevent future exploitation.

To mitigate CVE-2026-20612, organizations and users should promptly update affected macOS systems to the fixed versions: macOS Sequoia 15.7.4, macOS Tahoe 26.3, or macOS Sonoma 14.8.4. Beyond patching, implement strict application control policies to limit installation and execution of untrusted or unnecessary applications, reducing the attack surface. Employ endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions to monitor for unusual access patterns to sensitive data by applications. Educate users about the risks of interacting with untrusted software to minimize social engineering vectors. Regularly audit permissions and access controls on sensitive data stores to ensure least privilege principles are enforced. Consider using macOS privacy features such as Transparency, Consent, and Control (TCC) to monitor and restrict app access to sensitive resources. Maintain comprehensive backup and incident response plans to quickly address any data exposure incidents. These combined measures will strengthen defenses against exploitation of this vulnerability.