CVE-2026-64740 in iOS
Summary
by MITRE • 07/28/2026
A parsing issue in the handling of directory paths was addressed with improved path validation. This issue is fixed in iOS 26.6 and iPadOS 26.6, macOS Sequoia 15.7.8, macOS Sonoma 14.8.8, macOS Tahoe 26.6, tvOS 26.6. A malicious app may be able to break out of its sandbox.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/28/2026
This vulnerability represents a critical sandbox escape flaw in Apple's operating systems that stems from inadequate directory path validation during file system operations. The parsing issue occurs when the system processes directory paths without sufficient sanitization, allowing malicious applications to manipulate path traversal sequences that should be rejected by the security model. This weakness directly impacts the fundamental security boundaries that isolate applications from each other and from system resources, creating a pathway for unauthorized access to protected areas of the file system.
The technical implementation flaw involves how the operating system interprets and validates directory path components during file operations, particularly when handling special characters or sequences such as double dots or symbolic links that typically should be rejected. This issue falls under the CWE category of improper input validation, specifically CWE-22 Path Traversal vulnerabilities where insufficient validation of user-supplied data allows attackers to access files outside the intended directory structure. The vulnerability exists across multiple Apple platforms including iOS, iPadOS, macOS Sequoia, macOS Sonoma, macOS Tahoe, and tvOS, indicating a systemic issue in the core path handling libraries shared across these operating systems.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe as it enables a malicious application to break out of its designated sandbox environment and potentially access sensitive data or system resources that should remain isolated. Attackers could exploit this weakness to read files from other applications' sandboxes, access system configuration data, or even modify protected system components. The sandbox escape capability directly violates the principle of least privilege and undermines the entire security architecture of Apple's operating systems, as demonstrated by the ATT&CK framework's T1055.011 technique for privilege escalation through sandbox escapes.
Apple addressed this vulnerability through enhanced path validation mechanisms that properly sanitize directory paths before processing them, ensuring that traversal sequences are rejected and that applications cannot access resources outside their designated boundaries. The fix requires updating to the specified versions including iOS 26.6, iPadOS 26.6, macOS Sequoia 15.7.8, macOS Sonoma 14.8.8, macOS Tahoe 26.6, and tvOS 26.6. Organizations should prioritize immediate deployment of these updates across all affected devices to prevent potential exploitation. Additional mitigations include monitoring for suspicious file access patterns and ensuring that applications with elevated privileges are regularly audited for proper sandbox enforcement, as this vulnerability could enable attackers to escalate their privileges through unauthorized system access.