CVE-2026-112628 in iOS
Summary
by MITRE • 10/26/2026
This issue was addressed with improved data access restriction. This issue is fixed in iOS 26.7.2 and iPadOS 26.7.2, iOS 27.2 and iPadOS 27.2, macOS Golden Gate 27.2, macOS Sequoia 15.8.2, macOS Tahoe 26.7.2, visionOS 27.2. An app may be able to access sensitive user data.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/26/2026
The vulnerability described involves a failure in the operating system's enforcement of application sandboxing and privacy controls, specifically within Apple's iOS, iPadOS, macOS, and visionOS ecosystems. This flaw represents an improper restriction of data access, allowing applications that do not possess the necessary privileges or user-granted permissions to retrieve sensitive information belonging to other users or processes. In modern mobile and desktop operating systems, security is heavily reliant on strict isolation between applications to prevent unauthorized cross-application communication and data leakage. When this boundary is compromised due to insufficient validation of access requests, an application can bypass standard privacy mechanisms such as the Photo Library, Contacts, Location Services, or Keychain protections that are designed to shield user identity and personal details from malicious or poorly coded software.
From a technical perspective, this issue likely stems from a logic error in the system services responsible for mediating data access between applications and core OS components. Instead of strictly verifying whether the requesting process has been explicitly authorized by the user through permission dialogs or possesses specific entitlements defined in its code signature, the operating system may have returned data to any caller that met less stringent criteria. This type of flaw is characteristic of CWE-200, which classifies information exposure vulnerabilities where an attacker can gain access to sensitive information without authorization. It also aligns with CWE-749, describing a situation where a design or implementation fails to provide the necessary protection for data against unauthorized actors within the same trust boundary. The absence of rigorous checks allows apps to exploit these gaps to harvest personal identifiers, financial records, health data, or communication logs that should remain private.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant because it undermines user privacy and can lead to severe consequences such as identity theft, targeted phishing attacks, and unauthorized surveillance. If a malicious app can access sensitive user data without detection, it could exfiltrate credentials for banking services, read personal messages, or track location history over time. This erosion of trust in the platform's security model is particularly dangerous because users often assume that apps installed from official stores have undergone sufficient scrutiny to respect their privacy settings. Attackers leveraging this flaw do not need complex exploit chains; they simply require a user to install an application with malicious intent, after which the app can silently gather data in the background without triggering standard alerts or requiring further interaction.
To mitigate these risks, users must ensure that all devices are updated to the latest patched versions of iOS 26.7.2, iPadOS 26.7.2, iOS 27.2, iPadOS 27.2, macOS Golden Gate 27.2, macOS Sequoia 15.8.2, macOS Tahoe 26.7.2, and visionOS 27.2, as these releases contain the necessary code changes to enforce stricter data access restrictions. Beyond updating software, users should adopt a principle of least privilege by regularly reviewing app permissions in their device settings and revoking access for applications that do not require it for core functionality. Additionally, developers must adhere to secure coding practices that validate all input and ensure that any request for sensitive resources is explicitly authorized by the user through clear consent mechanisms. Security researchers and penetration testers should utilize tools aligned with MITRE ATT&CK techniques such as T1005 (Data from Local System) or T1213 (Data from Information Repositories) to test for similar weaknesses in other applications, ensuring that access controls are robust against both accidental misconfigurations and deliberate exploitation attempts.