CVE-2026-20625 is a vulnerability identified in Apple macOS that stems from a parsing issue in the handling of directory paths. Specifically, the flaw involves insufficient validation of directory paths, which can be exploited by a malicious application to gain unauthorized access to sensitive user data stored on the system. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-22 (Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory), indicating a directory traversal or path validation weakness. This issue affects multiple versions of macOS, including Sequoia 15.7.4, Tahoe 26.3, Sonoma 14.8.4, and visionOS 26.3. Apple has addressed the vulnerability by implementing improved path validation mechanisms in these updates. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 5.5, reflecting a medium severity level. The vector indicates that exploitation requires local access (AV:L), low attack complexity (AC:L), no privileges required (PR:N), but user interaction is necessary (UI:R). The scope is unchanged (S:U), and the impact affects confidentiality (C:H) but not integrity or availability (I:N, A:N). No public exploits have been reported to date. The vulnerability could allow an attacker who convinces a user to run a malicious app to bypass normal access controls and read sensitive files, potentially exposing private information. This flaw underscores the critical need for robust path validation in operating system components that handle file system paths.

The primary impact of CVE-2026-20625 is unauthorized disclosure of sensitive user data on affected macOS systems. An attacker with local access who can trick a user into executing a malicious application could exploit this vulnerability to bypass directory path restrictions and access files that should be protected. This compromises confidentiality, potentially exposing personal information, credentials, or proprietary data. Although the vulnerability does not affect system integrity or availability, the exposure of sensitive data can lead to privacy violations, identity theft, or corporate espionage. Organizations relying on macOS for critical operations, especially those handling sensitive or regulated data, face increased risk of data breaches. The requirement for user interaction limits remote exploitation but does not eliminate risk in environments where users may run untrusted applications. The absence of known exploits in the wild reduces immediate threat but patching remains essential to prevent future attacks. Overall, the vulnerability poses a moderate risk to individual users and organizations, particularly in sectors such as technology, finance, healthcare, and government where sensitive data protection is paramount.

To mitigate CVE-2026-20625, organizations and users should promptly apply the security updates released by Apple for macOS Sequoia 15.7.4, Tahoe 26.3, Sonoma 14.8.4, and visionOS 26.3, which include improved path validation to address the vulnerability. Beyond patching, organizations should enforce strict application control policies to limit the execution of untrusted or unsigned applications, reducing the risk of malicious apps exploiting this flaw. Employ endpoint protection solutions capable of detecting suspicious file system access patterns and monitor for unusual application behavior involving directory traversal attempts. Educate users about the risks of running unknown applications and implement least privilege principles to restrict user permissions, minimizing the impact of potential exploitation. Additionally, conduct regular audits of file system permissions and access controls to ensure sensitive data is adequately protected. Organizations should also consider implementing macOS security features such as System Integrity Protection (SIP) and sandboxing to further limit application capabilities. Finally, maintain an incident response plan to quickly address any suspected data exposure resulting from this or similar vulnerabilities.