CVE-2026-20627: Apple iOS and iPadOS · Improper Input Validation
Affects Apple iOS and iPadOSSource CVE Database V5
Not known to be exploited · CVSS 5.5 Medium : upgrade to 26.3 when convenient.
Data as of 26 Oct 2026, 17:16 UTC
- EPSS
- 0.1% chance of exploitation in 30 days – higher than 6% of CVEsExploit Prediction Scoring System: the likelihood attackers will use this flaw soon.
- Patch
- Available – fixed in 26.3, 15.7.4, 14.8.4
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:NExploitation 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 26 Oct 2026.
What to do
Upgrade iOS and iPadOS and visionOS and watchOS to 26.3; macOS to 26.3, 15.7.4 or 14.8.4.
Affected software
| Product | Affected | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|
| AppleiOS and iPadOS | Affected
| Fixed in
|
| ApplemacOS | Affected
| Fixed in
|
| ApplemacOS | Affected
| Fixed in
|
| ApplemacOS | Affected
| Fixed in
|
| ApplevisionOS | Affected
| Fixed in
|
| ApplewatchOS | Affected
| Fixed in
|
AI-suggested
- Immediately update all affected Apple devices (iOS, iPadOS, macOS Sonoma, macOS Tahoe, visionOS, watchOS) to version 26.3 or later where the vulnerability is fixed.
- Enforce strict app installation policies, limiting installations to trusted sources such as the Apple App Store and vetted enterprise apps.
- Implement Mobile Device Management (MDM) solutions to control app permissions and monitor for suspicious app behavior related to environment variable access.
- Educate users about the risks of installing untrusted applications and the importance of user interaction in triggering this vulnerability.
- Regularly audit installed applications and remove any unnecessary or suspicious apps.
- Monitor device logs and behavior for unusual access patterns to environment variables or sensitive data.
- For organizations, consider deploying endpoint detection and response (EDR) tools capable of detecting anomalous app activities on Apple devices.
- Maintain an up-to-date inventory of Apple devices and their OS versions to ensure compliance with patching policies.
Description
An issue existed in the handling of environment variables. This issue was addressed with improved validation. This issue is fixed in iOS 26.3 and iPadOS 26.3, macOS Sequoia 15.7.4, macOS Sonoma 14.8.4, macOS Tahoe 26.3, visionOS 26.3, watchOS 26.3. An app may be able to access sensitive user data.
References
- support.apple.com/en-us/126346 (opens in a new tab)
- support.apple.com/en-us/126348 (opens in a new tab)
- support.apple.com/en-us/126350 (opens in a new tab)
- support.apple.com/en-us/126352 (opens in a new tab)
- support.apple.com/en-us/126353 (opens in a new tab)
- support.apple.com/en-us/126349 (opens in a new tab)