CVE-2026-20625 is a vulnerability identified in Apple macOS that arises from a parsing issue in the handling of directory paths. Specifically, the flaw involves improper validation of directory path inputs, classified under CWE-22, which can lead to an application bypassing intended directory restrictions. This vulnerability enables a malicious or compromised app to access sensitive user data that should otherwise be protected. The issue requires user interaction but does not require any privileges (PR:N) and has low attack complexity (AC:L). The vulnerability affects multiple Apple operating systems including macOS Sequoia 15.7.4, macOS Sonoma 14.8.4, macOS Tahoe 26.3, and visionOS 26.3. Apple has mitigated the vulnerability by implementing improved path validation mechanisms in these versions. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 5.5, reflecting a medium severity level, with a vector indicating local attack vector (AV:L), no privileges required (PR:N), user interaction required (UI:R), and high confidentiality impact (C:H) but no impact on integrity or availability. No public exploits or active exploitation have been reported to date. The vulnerability could be exploited by tricking a user into running a malicious app that leverages the path parsing flaw to access sensitive files or data, potentially leading to privacy breaches or data leaks.

The primary impact of CVE-2026-20625 is the unauthorized disclosure of sensitive user data on affected macOS systems. If exploited, attackers could access confidential information without elevated privileges, undermining user privacy and potentially exposing personal or corporate data. While the vulnerability does not affect system integrity or availability, the confidentiality breach could have serious consequences, especially for organizations handling sensitive or regulated data. The requirement for user interaction limits the ease of exploitation but does not eliminate risk, as social engineering or phishing could be used to induce users to run malicious applications. Organizations relying heavily on Apple macOS environments, including enterprises, government agencies, and individuals, face increased risk of data leakage. The absence of known exploits reduces immediate threat but patching remains critical to prevent future attacks. The vulnerability could also be leveraged as part of multi-stage attacks to gain further foothold or escalate privileges indirectly.

To mitigate CVE-2026-20625, organizations and users should promptly update affected Apple operating systems to the patched versions: macOS Sequoia 15.7.4, macOS Sonoma 14.8.4, macOS Tahoe 26.3, and visionOS 26.3. Beyond patching, organizations should implement strict application control policies to restrict installation and execution of untrusted or unsigned applications, reducing the risk of malicious apps exploiting the flaw. Employ endpoint protection solutions capable of detecting suspicious app behaviors related to unauthorized file access. Educate users on the risks of running unknown or unverified applications, emphasizing caution with apps received via email or untrusted sources to mitigate social engineering vectors. Regularly audit and monitor file access logs for unusual activity that might indicate exploitation attempts. Consider deploying macOS security features such as System Integrity Protection (SIP) and sandboxing to limit app capabilities. Finally, maintain up-to-date backups of sensitive data to reduce impact in case of compromise.