CVE-2026-65329 in iOS
Summary
by MITRE • 08/17/2026
An authentication issue was addressed with improved state management. This issue is fixed in iOS 26.6.1 and iPadOS 26.6.1. An attacker in a privileged network position may be able to bypass IPSec authentication and intercept network traffic.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/17/2026
The vulnerability described involves a critical flaw in the state management mechanisms of Apple's operating systems, specifically affecting iOS and iPadOS versions prior to 26.6.1. This issue centers on how the system handles session states during the Internet Protocol Security (IPSec) authentication process. IPSec is a suite of protocols used to secure Internet Protocol communications by authenticating and encrypting each IP packet in a communication session, thereby providing confidentiality, integrity, and origin authentication for data over an insecure network like the internet or a local area network. The flaw lies in the improper management of these states, which creates a gap that can be exploited by malicious actors to disrupt the security guarantees provided by IPSec.
An attacker positioned within a privileged network position, such as on the same local network segment or having access to critical routing infrastructure, can leverage this state management deficiency to bypass authentication checks. By manipulating the sequence of packets or exploiting race conditions in how the operating system validates session states, an adversary can trick the device into accepting unauthorized connections or allowing traffic that should have been blocked due to failed authentication. This effectively neutralizes one of the primary defenses against eavesdropping and man-in-the-middle attacks within IPSec implementations. The ability to bypass authentication means that sensitive data transmitted over these secured channels is no longer protected from interception by local network attackers who might otherwise be excluded by proper credential verification.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe, particularly for users relying on secure remote access or private networking solutions built upon iOS and iPadOS devices. If an attacker successfully intercepts the traffic, they gain the ability to read sensitive information such as login credentials, personal messages, financial data, or corporate secrets transmitted over the network. This constitutes a direct violation of confidentiality and integrity principles. Furthermore, because IPSec is often used in virtual private networks (VPNs) for remote work, this flaw could allow an attacker to impersonate legitimate users or services, leading to potential unauthorized access to internal resources if additional layers of security are not present. The risk is amplified by the fact that network position-based attacks do not require complex exploitation techniques beyond understanding the state machine flaws and timing interactions correctly.
From a classification perspective, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-287 Improper Authentication, as it involves failing to properly verify identity before granting access or allowing communication. It also relates to CWE-362 Concurrent Execution using Shared Resource with Improper Synchronization Race Condition if the state management flaw relies on timing issues during packet processing. In terms of adversary tactics, this aligns with MITRE ATT&CK techniques related to Network Sniffing and potentially Impersonation within lateral movement scenarios where network trust is established via compromised or bypassed authentication mechanisms.
To mitigate this risk, it is imperative that all iOS and iPadOS devices are updated to version 26.6.1 or later as soon as possible. Apple has addressed the underlying state management issues in these updates, ensuring that IPSec sessions are correctly authenticated and maintained without allowing unauthorized bypasses. Organizations should enforce mobile device management policies that mandate timely OS updates for all corporate-owned iOS and iPadOS devices. Additionally, users relying on public Wi-Fi or untrusted networks should exercise caution until their devices are patched, as the risk of interception is highest in environments where attackers can easily achieve a privileged network position. Implementing multi-factor authentication at higher application layers can provide an additional safeguard against credential theft resulting from such network-level vulnerabilities.