CVE-2026-20641 is a privacy vulnerability identified in Apple macOS and other Apple operating systems such as watchOS, tvOS, iOS, iPadOS, and visionOS. The flaw allows a malicious application to determine what other applications are installed on a user's device. This capability can be exploited to gather sensitive information about the user's software environment, potentially aiding targeted attacks or profiling. The vulnerability stems from insufficient checks in the operating system that previously allowed apps to query installed app lists without adequate restrictions. Apple has addressed this issue by implementing improved verification mechanisms that restrict unauthorized access to this information. The vulnerability affects multiple Apple OS versions prior to the patched releases (e.g., macOS Sonoma 14.8.4, macOS Sequoia 15.7.4). The CVSS v3.1 base score is 7.1, indicating high severity, with the vector showing local attack vector, low attack complexity, no privileges required, user interaction required, unchanged scope, and high impact on confidentiality and integrity but no impact on availability. The weakness corresponds to CWE-200 (Exposure of Sensitive Information). No known exploits have been reported in the wild, but the potential for privacy invasion and subsequent targeted exploitation is significant.

The primary impact of CVE-2026-20641 is the unauthorized disclosure of sensitive information regarding which applications a user has installed. This can compromise user privacy and enable attackers to profile targets for further attacks, such as phishing, social engineering, or exploiting known vulnerabilities in the identified apps. For organizations, this could lead to exposure of internal software usage patterns, potentially revealing proprietary or security-sensitive applications. Attackers could leverage this information to craft more effective targeted attacks or identify weak points in the organization's security posture. Although the vulnerability does not directly affect system availability, the confidentiality and integrity impacts are high. The requirement for local access and user interaction somewhat limits remote exploitation but does not eliminate risk, especially in environments where users may install untrusted applications or click on malicious links. Overall, this vulnerability poses a significant privacy risk to individual users and organizations relying on Apple devices.

To mitigate CVE-2026-20641, organizations and users should promptly update all affected Apple operating systems to the patched versions, including macOS Sonoma 14.8.4, macOS Sequoia 15.7.4, watchOS 26.3, tvOS 26.3, iOS 18.7.5, iPadOS 18.7.5, and visionOS 26.3. Beyond patching, organizations should enforce strict application control policies, limiting installation of untrusted or unsigned apps to reduce the risk of malicious apps exploiting this vulnerability. Employing Mobile Device Management (MDM) solutions to monitor and restrict app installations can further reduce exposure. Educate users to avoid installing apps from unverified sources and to be cautious with app permissions and prompts requiring interaction. Monitoring for unusual app behavior that attempts to enumerate installed applications can help detect exploitation attempts. Finally, integrating privacy-focused endpoint protection solutions that can detect anomalous app queries may provide additional defense layers.