CVE-2026-113908 in iOS
Summary
by MITRE • 10/26/2026
A privacy issue was addressed by removing sensitive data. This issue is fixed in iOS 27.2 and iPadOS 27.2. An app may be able to access sensitive user data.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/27/2026
The vulnerability described represents a critical failure in application-level data handling, specifically concerning the improper exposure of sensitive user information on Apple mobile operating systems. This issue stems from an architectural or implementation flaw where applications are granted excessive permissions or lack sufficient validation checks when accessing private datasets. In many cases, this occurs due to misconfigured entitlements or insufficient use of system-provided privacy APIs that restrict access to specific data types such as contacts, photos, location history, or health records without explicit and granular user consent. The root cause is typically categorized under CWE-200, which defines an Information Exposure vulnerability where security-sensitive information is disclosed to unauthorized actors. This exposure can happen through direct API calls that bypass privacy prompts, improper serialization of sensitive objects into logs or network requests, or failure to sanitize data before passing it between app components.
From a technical perspective, the flaw allows malicious or compromised applications to read user data that should remain isolated within their own sandboxed environment. On iOS and iPadOS, Apple enforces strict sandboxing rules to prevent apps from accessing each other's data. However, if an application exploits this privacy issue, it can bypass these restrictions by leveraging system-level APIs incorrectly configured by the developer or by exploiting race conditions in permission checks. This could involve reading clipboard contents, accessing keychain items belonging to other applications, or retrieving personal information stored in shared containers without proper authorization. The absence of adequate input validation and output encoding further exacerbates the risk, allowing attackers to extract structured data that can be exfiltrated to remote servers for malicious purposes such as identity theft, financial fraud, or targeted phishing campaigns.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe, particularly given the pervasive nature of mobile applications in daily life. Users rely on these devices for communication, banking, healthcare management, and personal organization. When sensitive data is exposed, it compromises not only individual privacy but also organizational security if corporate credentials or proprietary information are stored on the device. Attackers can use this access to build detailed profiles of users, enabling sophisticated social engineering attacks. Furthermore, in enterprise environments where Mobile Device Management (MDM) solutions enforce strict policies, such vulnerabilities undermine trust and compliance with regulations like GDPR, HIPAA, or CCPA. The ability to silently harvest data without user knowledge erodes confidence in the platform's security model and can lead to significant reputational damage for both developers and Apple as a provider of secure mobile infrastructure.
Mitigation strategies must focus on enforcing least-privilege principles and enhancing privacy controls at both the application development level and system configuration levels. Developers should rigorously audit their codebase using static analysis tools to identify unauthorized data access patterns and ensure that all requests for sensitive resources trigger appropriate user consent dialogs as mandated by Apple’s Human Interface Guidelines. Implementing runtime checks to verify permission status before accessing protected APIs is essential. Additionally, enabling App Privacy Report features allows users to monitor which apps are accessing what types of data, promoting transparency. System-level mitigations include keeping iOS and iPadOS updated to version 27.2 or later, where Apple has addressed these specific flaws by tightening sandbox enforcement and refining permission scopes. Organizations should also enforce MDM policies that restrict app installation sources and disable unnecessary permissions for high-risk applications. Regular security assessments and penetration testing focused on data leakage vectors will help identify similar weaknesses before they can be exploited in production environments.