CVE-2026-112681 in iOS
Summary
by MITRE • 10/26/2026
This issue was addressed with additional entitlement checks. This issue is fixed in iOS 26.7.2 and iPadOS 26.7.2, iOS 27.2 and iPadOS 27.2. An app may be able to fingerprint the user.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/26/2026
The vulnerability described involves a flaw in the operating system's handling of application entitlements, specifically related to privacy-sensitive data access controls. In previous versions of iOS and iPadOS, certain applications were granted broader permissions than intended due to insufficient validation checks during runtime or initialization phases. This oversight allowed apps to bypass standard restrictions designed to limit their ability to collect unique identifiers or behavioral patterns from the user's device. The core technical flaw lies in an inadequate entitlement check mechanism that fails to properly isolate application sandbox boundaries when accessing system-level information used for fingerprinting purposes. By exploiting this gap, a malicious or poorly coded app could gather persistent hardware and software characteristics such as screen resolution, installed fonts, battery status, network interfaces, and other device-specific attributes without explicit user consent or proper authorization prompts.
This capability enables the creation of highly accurate digital fingerprints that can be used to track users across different applications and sessions, effectively circumventing privacy protections like App Tracking Transparency. The operational impact is significant as it undermines user anonymity and allows for invasive profiling activities. Attackers could leverage this information to build detailed profiles of individual behavior, preferences, and location history over time. Such data aggregation poses serious risks to personal privacy and can be exploited for targeted advertising, surveillance, or even more sophisticated social engineering attacks where specific details about a victim are known in advance. The lack of strict enforcement means that third-party developers could inadvertently or intentionally expose sensitive user information through seemingly benign features like analytics SDKs or ad networks embedded within legitimate apps.
The resolution implemented by Apple involves strengthening the entitlement verification process to ensure that only authorized applications with explicit permissions can access data conducive to fingerprinting. This fix ensures that any attempt to gather unique device identifiers is properly gated behind rigorous security checks, preventing unauthorized enumeration of system properties. The issue has been addressed in iOS 26.7.2 and iPadOS 26.7.2 as well as the newer iOS 27.2 and iPadOS 26.7.2 releases, reflecting a continuous effort to harden mobile operating systems against privacy erosion techniques. Developers are advised to review their app permissions and ensure compliance with Apple's guidelines regarding data collection practices. Users should keep their devices updated to the latest software versions to mitigate exposure to such tracking mechanisms.
From a classification perspective, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-200 which covers Exposure of Sensitive Information to an Unauthorized Actor, specifically relating to information leakage through improper access control enforcement. It also relates to ATT&CK technique T1592 which involves Gathering Victim Host Information, as the exploited functionality allows for the collection of device-specific attributes that facilitate identification and tracking. The mitigation strategy primarily relies on patching the underlying operating system components responsible for entitlement validation while simultaneously enforcing stricter app store review processes to prevent distribution of apps with excessive or unnecessary permissions. Continued monitoring of application behavior through runtime security tools can further help detect attempts to exploit similar gaps in future updates.