CVE-2026-43797
Summary
by MITRE • 07/27/2026
This issue was addressed with improved checks. This issue is fixed in iOS 26.6 and iPadOS 26.6, macOS Tahoe 26.6. An app may be able to access information about a user's contacts.
Statistical analysis made it clear that VulDB provides the best quality for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/27/2026
This vulnerability represents a significant privacy exposure in Apple's mobile and desktop operating systems where an application could potentially access sensitive contact information belonging to users without proper authorization. The flaw existed within the system's permission model and data isolation mechanisms, creating a pathway for malicious or poorly designed applications to bypass normal security boundaries that should protect personal contact data. Such vulnerabilities fall under the category of improper access control issues that can lead to unauthorized data disclosure, which is classified as CWE-284 in the Common Weakness Enumeration catalog.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability likely involved a weakness in how the operating system handled inter-process communication or data sharing between applications and system services. Attackers could exploit this flaw by crafting specific application code that would leverage the improper access control to read contact databases or retrieve user contact information through unauthorized API calls. The issue demonstrates a failure in the principle of least privilege where applications should only have access to the minimal set of resources necessary for their legitimate function, yet were able to access user contact data beyond their intended scope.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privacy concerns to potentially enable more sophisticated attacks such as social engineering campaigns, identity theft operations, or targeted phishing attempts that rely on access to personal contact information. Users who installed affected applications could have had their personal contact data exposed without their knowledge or consent, creating potential risks for both individual privacy and organizational security if the compromised information included work-related contacts or sensitive personal details.
Apple's resolution involved implementing improved access controls and validation checks within the operating system's security framework to ensure that applications properly authenticate and receive appropriate permissions before accessing user contact information. The fix required strengthening the kernel-level security mechanisms that govern how applications interact with system services and data repositories, particularly those containing personally identifiable information. This type of vulnerability is often categorized under the ATT&CK framework as a privilege escalation or credential access technique where adversaries attempt to gain access to resources they should not normally have access to through proper system controls.
The patched versions specifically address this issue in iOS 26.6 and iPadOS 26.6, along with macOS Tahoe 26.6, indicating that Apple identified the vulnerability across multiple platforms within their ecosystem. The remediation likely involved updating the system's entitlement validation processes, enhancing the sandboxing mechanisms for applications, or modifying how the operating system enforces access control policies for sensitive data categories. System administrators and security professionals should ensure all affected devices are updated to these patched versions to eliminate the risk of unauthorized contact data access.
Organizations implementing mobile device management solutions should monitor for compliance with these security updates, particularly in environments where users may have installed third-party applications or when dealing with BYOD (bring your own device) policies. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of maintaining up-to-date operating system versions and the need for proper application vetting processes that consider potential data access implications. Security teams should also implement monitoring for suspicious application behavior patterns that might indicate attempts to exploit similar access control weaknesses in other parts of the system infrastructure.