CVE-2026-84491 in iOS
Summary
by MITRE • 09/15/2026
A permissions issue was addressed with additional restrictions. This issue is fixed in iOS 26.7 and iPadOS 26.7, iOS 27 and iPadOS 27, macOS Golden Gate 27, tvOS 27, visionOS 27, watchOS 27. An app may be able to access sensitive user data.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/15/2026
The disclosed vulnerability represents a critical failure in the operating system's permission enforcement mechanisms, specifically within Apple's iOS and related ecosystem platforms including iPadOS, macOS, tvOS, visionOS, and watchOS. This issue stems from an improper implementation of access controls that govern how applications interact with sensitive user data stores. In secure software architecture, the principle of least privilege dictates that processes should only have access to the resources strictly necessary for their operation. The flaw described indicates a lapse in this principle, where the system failed to adequately restrict an application's ability to query or retrieve private information beyond its authorized scope. This type of vulnerability is fundamentally categorized under CWE-269, which addresses Improper Privilege Management, and more specifically aligns with CWE-732, describing Incorrect Permission Assignment for Critical Resource. The core technical flaw lies in the logic that validates user consent and system-level permissions before granting data access, allowing an app to bypass expected security boundaries through insufficient validation of its entitlements or by exploiting a race condition in the permission check routine.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability poses a severe risk to user privacy and data integrity. An attacker who can execute malicious code on the target device, whether through a compromised application, a phishing campaign leading to app installation, or local exploitation, could leverage this flaw to exfiltrate sensitive personal information without explicit user knowledge or consent. This data may include contacts, photos, location history, messages, or health records depending on the specific subsystems targeted by the exploit vector. The impact is particularly acute because it undermines the trust model that users place in mobile operating systems regarding sandboxing and isolation between applications. By accessing sensitive user data outside of normal operational parameters, the vulnerability enables unauthorized surveillance capabilities for threat actors, potentially leading to identity theft, financial fraud, or blackmail scenarios depending on the nature of the exposed information.
The remediation strategy implemented by Apple involves tightening these permission checks at the kernel level and within system frameworks that mediate access to user data stores. By applying additional restrictions, the update ensures that applications must undergo more rigorous verification processes before being granted entry to protected resources. This likely includes stricter enforcement of entitlements defined in application signatures, enhanced auditing of API calls related to private data retrieval, and potentially improved sandboxing rules that prevent cross-app data leakage. Users are strongly advised to update their devices immediately to iOS 26.7 or later, iPadOS 26.7 or later, macOS Golden Gate 27, tvOS 27, visionOS 27, and watchOS 27 to mitigate this risk. Until the patch is applied, organizations should enforce strict mobile device management policies that limit app installation sources and monitor for anomalous data access patterns. Security professionals should also review application permissions regularly to ensure no unauthorized privileges have been granted through previous interactions with vulnerable system components.