CVE-2026-20626 is a vulnerability identified in Apple’s macOS and related operating systems, including iOS, iPadOS, and visionOS, that allows a malicious application to escalate its privileges to root. The root cause is insufficient authorization checks in the system, categorized under CWE-862 (Missing Authorization). This flaw enables an attacker who already has limited privileges on the system to bypass normal security controls and gain full administrative access without requiring user interaction. The vulnerability affects multiple Apple OS versions prior to the patched releases: macOS Sequoia 15.7.4, iOS 26.3, iPadOS 26.3, macOS Tahoe 26.3, and visionOS 26.3. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 7.8, indicating high severity, with an attack vector classified as local (AV:L), low attack complexity (AC:L), requiring privileges (PR:L), no user interaction (UI:N), unchanged scope (S:U), and high impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability (C:H/I:H/A:H). The vulnerability was publicly disclosed on February 11, 2026, with no known exploits in the wild at the time of publication. The issue was resolved by Apple through improved authorization checks in the affected OS versions. This vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it allows privilege escalation from a limited user context to root, potentially enabling full system compromise, installation of persistent malware, or unauthorized data access.

The impact of CVE-2026-20626 is significant for organizations using affected Apple operating systems. A successful exploit allows a malicious app or actor with limited privileges to gain root access, effectively bypassing all system security controls. This can lead to complete system compromise, including unauthorized access to sensitive data, installation of persistent malware, disruption of system availability, and potential lateral movement within networks. Since the attack requires local access but no user interaction, it can be leveraged by attackers who have already gained some foothold, such as through phishing or supply chain attacks. The high impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability means that critical systems running macOS or related OS versions are at risk of severe damage, data breaches, and operational disruption. Enterprises relying on Apple platforms for development, creative work, or business operations must prioritize patching to mitigate this threat.

To mitigate CVE-2026-20626, organizations should immediately apply the security updates released by Apple for macOS Sequoia 15.7.4, iOS 26.3, iPadOS 26.3, macOS Tahoe 26.3, and visionOS 26.3. Beyond patching, organizations should implement strict application whitelisting and restrict installation of untrusted or unsigned applications to reduce the risk of malicious apps gaining initial access. Employ endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions capable of monitoring privilege escalation attempts and anomalous behavior on Apple devices. Regularly audit user privileges and remove unnecessary local privileges to limit the attack surface. Network segmentation can help contain any compromise resulting from local privilege escalation. Additionally, enforce strong device management policies using Apple’s MDM solutions to ensure devices remain up to date and compliant. Educate users about the risks of installing unauthorized software and maintain robust incident response plans tailored for Apple environments.