CVE-2026-20648: Apple macOS · A malicious app may be able to access notifications from other iCloud devices
Affects Apple macOSSource CVE Database V5
Not known to be exploited · CVSS 5.5 Medium : upgrade to 26.3 when convenient.
Data as of 25 Oct 2026, 19:02 UTC
- EPSS
- 0.1% chance of exploitation in 30 days – higher than 4% of CVEsExploit Prediction Scoring System: the likelihood attackers will use this flaw soon.
- Patch
- Available – fixed in 26.3
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 2026-10-25.
What to do
Upgrade Apple macOS to 26.3.
Affected software
| Product | Affected | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|
| ApplemacOS | Affected
| Fixed in
|
AI-suggested
1. Update all macOS devices to macOS Tahoe 26.3 or later, where the vulnerability is fixed by relocating sensitive notification data to a protected location. 2. Enforce strict application installation policies to allow only trusted and verified apps, reducing the risk of malicious app installation. 3. Employ endpoint protection solutions capable of detecting and blocking suspicious app behaviors that attempt to access notification data. 4. Educate users about the risks of installing untrusted applications and the importance of prompt system updates. 5. Monitor device logs and notification access patterns for unusual activity that could indicate exploitation attempts. 6. For organizations, consider disabling or limiting iCloud synchronization of notifications on critical systems where feasible. 7. Implement least privilege principles and restrict local user permissions to minimize the ability to install unauthorized software. 8. Regularly audit macOS devices for compliance with security policies and update management.
Description
A privacy issue was addressed by moving sensitive data to a protected location. This issue is fixed in macOS Tahoe 26.3. A malicious app may be able to access notifications from other iCloud devices.