Skip to main content

Apple operating systems EUVDEUVD-2026-29274

| CVE-2026-28974 HIGH
Improper Access Control (CWE-284)
2026-05-11 apple GHSA-xxh7-j8v2-g57f
7.5
CVSS 3.1 · Vendor: apple
View

Attack ChainAIDerived

Hypothetical attack flow derived from CVE metadata – not a confirmed exploit chain

  1. Access
    Deliver malicious app to target device
  2. Delivery
    Install app on iOS/macOS/tvOS/visionOS/watchOS
  3. Exploit
    App exploits missing authorization checks
  4. Execution
    Access sensitive data without permission prompts
  5. Impact
    Exfiltrate confidential information via network connection

Vulnerability Assessment

Weakness
CWE
OWASP Top 10:2025
A01:2025 - Broken Access Control
ASVS 5.0
V8 - Authorization Access control enforcement
MITRE ATT&CK

1 technique across 1 tactic: Defense Evasion

The technique list with ATT&CK links and the kill-chain view is part of the Basic plan and up.

Exploitation Conditions

Exploitation requires a malicious application to be installed on the target Apple device. While the CVSS vector indicates network-accessible, unauthenticated exploitation (AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N), the vendor description confirms an app must be present to trigger the vulnerability, creating a delivery barrier. The app need not be from untrusted sources - the vulnerability could potentially be triggered by malicious code within apps distributed through Apple's official App Store if the malicious payload evades app review processes. No special device configuration, user interaction beyond initial app installation, or elevated privileges are required once the malicious app is present. The vulnerability affects default configurations across all Apple platforms. The primary limiting factor is the requirement for app delivery and installation, which provides detection opportunities through endpoint security controls and Apple's Gatekeeper/App Review mechanisms.

Impact

Critical discrepancy exists between the vendor's stated impact and the CVSS assessment that security teams must understand. The vendor description claims 'denial-of-service' capability, but the CVSS vector (C:H/I:N/A:N) indicates HIGH confidentiality impact with NO availability impact - these are contradictory. The CVSS 7.5 score derives entirely from the confidentiality breach potential with network-accessible, low-complexity, unauthenticated exploitation (AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N). This represents a data exfiltration risk, not a DoS risk. Security teams should prioritize based on the confidentiality impact confirmed by CVSS analysis rather than the vendor's description. EPSS at 7th percentile suggests minimal observed exploitation activity in the wild, consistent with the vulnerability requiring malicious app installation (despite CVSS indicating network vector). The contradiction likely stems from CVSS scoring the network-reachable component while the vendor description focuses on the app-level trigger. Not listed in CISA KEV, indicating no confirmed active exploitation. Real-world risk is HIGH for environments with sensitive data on Apple devices, but exploitation requires app delivery, creating a detection opportunity.

Exploit ScenarioDerived

An attacker develops a malicious application that exploits insufficient authorization checks in Apple's shared framework components. When installed on an unpatched device, the app executes network requests to access sensitive user data (contacts, photos, location history, or application data) without proper permission validation, bypassing Apple's privacy controls. The attacker exfiltrates this confidential information to remote servers without triggering visible permission prompts or security warnings. No public proof-of-concept exists at time of analysis.

This Week Schedule remediation this week. Why: HIGH severity (CVSS 7.0-8.9).
Patch available 0.0% exploitation probability (EPSS)

Get an e-mail when this CVE is exploited, patched or re-scored. Free account.

Alert me

AnalysisAIv1 – May 12, 2026

Confidentiality breach in Apple's operating systems (iOS, iPadOS, macOS, tvOS, visionOS, watchOS) allows remote unauthenticated attackers to access high-sensitivity information through improper access control checks. Despite the vendor description indicating denial-of-service impact, the CVSS vector reveals a severe confidentiality compromise (C:H) with network-accessible attack surface requiring no authentication. Apple has patched all affected platforms in coordinated security updates released across six operating systems. EPSS score of 0.02% suggests low observed exploitation probability, and no public exploit code has been identified at time of analysis.

RemediationAI

Apply vendor-released patches immediately: upgrade iOS and iPadOS to version 26.5, macOS Sequoia to version 15.7.7, macOS Tahoe to version 26.5, tvOS to version 26.5, visionOS to version 26.5, and watchOS to version 26.5. Updates are available through standard Apple software update mechanisms for each platform. Consult platform-specific security advisories at https://support.apple.com/en-us/127110 (iOS/iPadOS), https://support.apple.com/en-us/127115 (macOS Sequoia), https://support.apple.com/en-us/127116 (macOS Tahoe), https://support.apple.com/en-us/127118 (tvOS), https://support.apple.com/en-us/127119 (visionOS), and https://support.apple.com/en-us/127120 (watchOS). No workarounds are documented. As a compensating control until patching, restrict installation of third-party applications to trusted sources only and enforce mobile device management policies that limit app installation permissions, though this significantly impacts device usability and does not prevent exploitation by apps already installed or distributed through official app stores.

Affected VersionsENISA

visionOS 0 <26.5
macOS 0 <15.7.7
watchOS 0 <26.5
tvOS 0 <26.5
macOS 0 <26.5
iOS and iPadOS 0 <26.5

Affected Packages

euvd ios_and_ipados fix: 26.5
euvd macos fix: 15.7.7, 26.5
euvd tvos fix: 26.5
euvd visionos fix: 26.5
euvd watchos fix: 26.5

Source: OSV (Open Source Vulnerabilities)

Affects your stack

Affects 5 packages in euvd

Checking this CVE against your own stacks and servers is part of the Basic plan and up.

Technical ContextAI · show details

This vulnerability stems from CWE-284 (Improper Access Control), indicating insufficient authorization enforcement in Apple's cross-platform framework components. The affected technology spans Apple's entire ecosystem: iOS/iPadOS mobile devices, macOS desktop/laptop systems (both Sequoia and newer Tahoe branches), tvOS streaming devices, visionOS spatial computing platform, and watchOS wearables. The CPE strings confirm application-layer vulnerabilities rather than kernel-level flaws. The root cause involves inadequate validation of authorization checks before granting access to sensitive resources or data, allowing applications to bypass intended security boundaries. Apple's fix involved 'improved checks to prevent unauthorized actions,' suggesting the addition of missing authorization gates or strengthening of existing permission validation logic in shared framework code deployed across all platforms.

Know when Tvos gets its next vulnerability

  • Watch products and get an email when something new is published
  • Check this CVE against your own stack and servers
  • Exploit and PoC references, threat intelligence from 22 sources

No credit card · 7-day full trial

Severity by source

Vendor (apple) PRIMARY 7.5 HIGH
AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N

Primary rating from Vendor (apple) · only source for this CVE.

CVSS VectorVendor: apple

Attack Vector
Network
Attack Complexity
Low
Privileges Required
None
User Interaction
None
Scope
Unchanged
Confidentiality
High
Integrity
None
Availability
None

Lifecycle Timeline

4
CVSS changed
May 12, 2026 - 14:22 NVD
7.5 (HIGH)
Patch available
May 11, 2026 - 22:18 EUVD
CVE Published
May 11, 2026 - 20:07 nvd
UNKNOWN (no severity yet)
CVE Published
May 11, 2026 - 20:07 nvd
HIGH 7.5

DescriptionCVE.org

This issue was addressed with improved checks to prevent unauthorized actions. This issue is fixed in iOS 26.5 and iPadOS 26.5, macOS Sequoia 15.7.7, macOS Tahoe 26.5, tvOS 26.5, visionOS 26.5, watchOS 26.5. An app may be able to cause a denial-of-service.

Executive ViewAI

Why It Matters

CVE-2026-28974 is a high-severity confidentiality breach affecting all Apple operating systems (iOS, iPadOS, macOS, tvOS, visionOS, watchOS) that allows remote attackers to access sensitive information without authentication. This vulnerability impacts every Apple device in your organization and requires immediate patching across all platforms to prevent unauthorized data exposure.

Business Impact: High
Compensating Controls

Apply vendor patch. Apple has released coordinated security updates addressing this vulnerability across all six operating systems; patching is the required remediation.

Threat Intelligence Overview

EPSS Score
0.0%
Top 93% exploitable
Data Quality
5 sources
Confidence: Medium

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.

SignalValue
Severity HIGH
CISA KEV No
Public POC No
EPSS 0.0%
Patch available Yes
Active threat No
Deciding rule
HIGH severity (CVSS 7.0-8.9)
What every action level means
Emergency Immediate action required. Criteria: CRITICAL + in CISA KEV (actively exploited) without patch, OR CRITICAL + EPSS > 30% without patch, OR CRITICAL + active threat signals without patch.
Act Now Prioritize within 24-48h. Criteria: in KEV with patch available, OR CRITICAL + public POC, OR HIGH + EPSS > 10%, OR CRITICAL + active threat, OR any CRITICAL severity.
This Week Schedule remediation this week. Criteria: HIGH severity (CVSS 7.0-8.9). Patch within normal change window.
This Month Plan within 30 days. Criteria: MEDIUM severity (CVSS 4.0-6.9), lower exploitation probability. Include in regular patch cycle.
Monitor Track and reassess. Criteria: LOW severity (CVSS 0.1-3.9), minimal exploitation risk. No immediate action needed.

SSVC AssessmentENISA

SSVC Decision
Scheduled
Exploitation
None
System Exposure· derived
Open
Automatable
Yes
Human Impact
High
Technical Impact
Partial

Priority Score

38
Low Medium High Critical
KEV: 0
EPSS: 0
CVSS: +38
PoC: 0
Weaponized: 0
Threat intel: 0
Gov advisory: 0

Attack Technique

Authentication bypass attacks exploit flaws in the verification mechanisms that control access to systems and applications.

More in Tvos

View all
CVE-2022-2294 HIGH
8.8 Jul 28

Heap buffer overflow in WebRTC in Google Chrome prior to 103.0.5060.114 allowed a remote attacker to potentially exploit

CVE-2017-13861 HIGH POC
7.8 Dec 25

An issue was discovered in certain Apple products. Rated high severity (CVSS 7.8), this vulnerability is no authenticati

CVE-2016-0801 CRITICAL POC
9.8 Feb 07

The Broadcom Wi-Fi driver in the kernel in Android 4.x before 4.4.4, 5.x before 5.1.1 LMY49G, and 6.x before 2016-02-01

CVE-2025-31277 HIGH POC
8.8 Jul 30

WebKit memory corruption in Safari 18.6 and multiple Apple platforms allows remote code execution when processing malici

CVE-2016-4622 HIGH
8.8 Jul 22

WebKit in Apple iOS before 9.3.3, Safari before 9.1.2, and tvOS before 9.2.2 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrar

CVE-2016-4669 HIGH POC
7.8 Feb 20

An issue was discovered in certain Apple products. Rated high severity (CVSS 7.8), this vulnerability is low attack comp

CVE-2025-43510 HIGH POC
7.8 Dec 12

Apple kernel lock state checking flaw allows a malicious application to cause unexpected changes in memory shared betwee

CVE-2017-2370 HIGH POC
7.8 Feb 20

An issue was discovered in certain Apple products. Rated high severity (CVSS 7.8), this vulnerability is no authenticati

CVE-2025-43520 MEDIUM POC
5.5 Dec 12

Apple kernel memory corruption in multiple operating systems allows a malicious application to cause unexpected system t

CVE-2025-14174 HIGH
8.8

Out-of-bounds write (CWE-787) in QtWebEngine before 6.10.1-r2 on Alpine Linux, and in other Chromium-based engines such

CVE-2025-43529 HIGH
8.8 Dec 17

WebKit arbitrary code execution via use-after-free memory corruption affects Safari 26.2, iOS/iPadOS 18.7.3 through 26.2

CVE-2017-11120 CRITICAL POC
9.8 Sep 28

On Broadcom BCM4355C0 Wi-Fi chips 9.44.78.27.0.1.56 and other chips, an attacker can craft a malformed RRM neighbor repo

This site uses cookies essential for authentication and security. No tracking or analytics cookies are used. Privacy Policy