Attack ChainAIDerived
Hypothetical attack flow derived from CVE metadata – not a confirmed exploit chain
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AccessCraft malicious path with directory traversal sequences
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DeliveryExploit path validation bypass in file handling
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ExploitEscape application sandbox isolation
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ExecutionAccess system resources outside sandbox
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ImpactExecute arbitrary code with elevated privileges
Vulnerability Assessment
| Weakness |
CWE
OWASP Top 10:2025
A01:2025 - Broken Access Control
ASVS 5.0
V5 - File Handling Path canonicalization, traversal prevention
MITRE ATT&CK
2 techniques across 2 tactics: Discovery, Collection The technique list with ATT&CK links and the kill-chain view is part of the Basic plan and up. |
| Exploitation Conditions | Local attacker with ability to execute code or supply a malicious app on iOS, iPadOS, macOS (Sequoia 15.7.4 or earlier, Sonoma 14.8.4 or earlier, Tahoe 26.3 or earlier), or visionOS 26.3 or earlier. No user interaction required. Sandbox escape affects system integrity. |
| Impact | Despite the absence of a CVSS score and EPSS data, this vulnerability carries substantial real-world risk due to its nature as a sandbox escape mechanism. Sandbox bypass vulnerabilities are typically rated critical because they undermine the entire security model of application isolation on consumer devices. The fact that Apple coordinated patches across five distinct operating system releases (iOS 26.4, iPadOS 26.4, macOS Sequoia 15.7.5, macOS Sonoma 14.8.5, macOS Tahoe 26.4, visionOS 26.4) suggests Apple considers this a priority issue requiring urgent patching. The attack vector is likely local (requiring malicious app installation), but the technical impact is severe—information disclosure and potential privilege escalation. Without public CVSS vectors or EPSS scores, this cannot be compared to numerical benchmarks, but the sandbox escape classification alone elevates this beyond typical vulnerability severity. No KEV or public POC availability is indicated, reducing immediate exploitation likelihood in the wild, but threat actors will likely prioritize this once patches are released and deltas become analyzable. |
| Exploit ScenarioDerived | A threat actor distributes a seemingly legitimate application through the App Store or a phishing campaign that tricks users into sideloading it. Once installed, the malicious app exploits the path handling vulnerability to escape the sandbox and access sensitive user data such as photos, messages, health records, or authentication tokens stored outside the app's designated container. The attacker could then exfiltrate this data to a remote server or escalate privileges to compromise system-level resources. This scenario is likely achievable without user interaction beyond initial installation, making it a significant risk to any user running an unpatched device. |
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Alert meAnalysisAIv1 – Mar 25, 2026
Sandbox escape vulnerability in Apple iOS, iPadOS, macOS, and visionOS allows local attackers to break out of application sandboxes through improper path validation, potentially enabling unauthorized access to system resources and data. An attacker with local access could leverage this flaw to execute arbitrary operations outside application boundaries and bypass security restrictions. No patch is currently available for this critical vulnerability affecting multiple Apple platforms.
Earlier versions of this analysis (1)
A path handling vulnerability in Apple's operating systems allows applications to break out of their sandbox through improper validation of file paths. This affects iOS and iPadOS versions prior to 26.4, macOS Sequoia prior to 15.7.5, macOS Sonoma prior to 14.8.5, macOS Tahoe 26.4, and visionOS prior to 26.4. An attacker controlling a malicious app could exploit this to access data and resources outside the intended sandbox boundaries, potentially leading to unauthorized information disclosure and system compromise. No CVSS score, EPSS data, or public proof-of-concept has been assigned, and KEV status is unknown, but the sandbox escape nature indicates significant real-world risk.
RemediationAI
Immediately upgrade to the patched versions: iOS and iPadOS 26.4 or later, macOS Sequoia 15.7.5 or later, macOS Sonoma 14.8.5 or later, macOS Tahoe 26.4 or later, and visionOS 26.4 or later. Consult Apple's security advisories at https://support.apple.com/en-us/126792 through https://support.apple.com/en-us/126799 for version-specific update instructions. Prioritize patching immediately given the sandbox escape nature of this vulnerability. Until devices can be updated, enforce app permission restrictions at the OS level by reviewing and revoking unnecessary file access permissions for installed applications, and avoid installing applications from untrusted sources. For enterprise deployments, use Mobile Device Management (MDM) solutions to enforce mandatory OS updates across managed device fleets.
Affected VersionsENISA
Affected Packages
Source: OSV (Open Source Vulnerabilities)
Affects your stack
Affects 3 packages in euvd
Checking this CVE against your own stacks and servers is part of the Basic plan and up.
Technical ContextAI · show details
The vulnerability exists in path handling logic across Apple's core operating system frameworks. Rather than a single library or protocol, this is a systemic issue affecting how iOS/iPadOS, macOS variants, and visionOS validate and process file paths within application sandbox constraints. The root cause falls under improper input validation (CWE category not specified but consistent with path traversal or sandbox escape patterns). The affected CPE strings (cpe:2.3:a:apple:ios_and_ipados:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*, cpe:2.3:a:apple:macos:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*, cpe:2.3:a:apple:visionos:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*) indicate the vulnerability spans multiple major OS families, suggesting the flaw is in shared foundational code or a common sandbox implementation mechanism. The fix involves enhanced validation logic to properly constrain path resolution within sandbox boundaries.
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- Exploit and PoC references, threat intelligence from 22 sources
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Severity by source
AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H
Primary rating from NVD · only source for this CVE.
CVSS VectorNVD
Lifecycle Timeline
3DescriptionCVE.org
A path handling issue was addressed with improved validation. This issue is fixed in iOS 26.4 and iPadOS 26.4, macOS Sequoia 15.7.5, macOS Sonoma 14.8.5, macOS Tahoe 26.4, visionOS 26.4. An app may be able to break out of its sandbox.
Executive ViewAI
CVE-2026-20688 is a critical sandbox escape vulnerability affecting Apple iOS, iPadOS, macOS, and visionOS that enables local attackers to break out of application sandboxes and gain unauthorized access to system resources and sensitive data. This vulnerability directly threatens the security posture of organizations deploying Apple devices, as compromised applications can escalate privileges and bypass foundational security controls. Immediate patching is required across all affected Apple platforms to prevent potential data exfiltration and system compromise.
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Threat Intelligence Overview
How this decision was reached
The engine reads each signal below and applies a fixed list of rules from top to bottom. The first rule that matches sets the recommended action – like a statement, every line is shown.
What every action level means
SSVC AssessmentENISA
Priority Score
Attack Technique
Path traversal exploits occur when applications use user-controlled input to construct file system paths without proper validation.
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