CVE-2026-84560 in iPadOS
Summary
by MITRE • 09/15/2026
An authorization issue was addressed with improved state management. This issue is fixed in iOS 27 and iPadOS 27, macOS Golden Gate 27, tvOS 27, visionOS 27, watchOS 27. An app may gain unauthorized access to Bluetooth.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/15/2026
The vulnerability described constitutes a critical authorization flaw rooted in inadequate state management within the operating system's core services, specifically affecting iOS, iPadOS, macOS, tvOS, visionOS, and watchOS platforms. This issue allows an application to bypass intended security restrictions and gain unauthorized access to Bluetooth hardware resources. In modern mobile and desktop ecosystems, Bluetooth is not merely a connectivity feature but a vector for significant data exfiltration and physical proximity attacks due to its ability to facilitate low-energy communication channels that are often difficult to monitor visually by the end-user. The root cause lies in how the operating system handles session states during authentication or permission requests; if state management is flawed, an application might retain privileges beyond what was explicitly granted or exploit race conditions where permissions are checked but not properly revoked upon context switching or backgrounding.
From a technical perspective, this flaw aligns with CWE-269, which addresses Improper Privilege Management, and more specifically CWE-732, concerning Incorrect Permission Assignment for Critical Resource. The failure to enforce strict state boundaries means that once an app obtains initial access, it may maintain or escalate privileges without further verification by the system's security kernel. This is particularly dangerous in environments where multiple applications compete for hardware resources, as a malicious actor could leverage this flaw to intercept Bluetooth Low Energy advertisements, pair with nearby devices silently, or inject commands into connected peripherals such as health monitors, smart locks, or input devices. The lack of robust state validation creates an opportunity for privilege escalation that persists across application lifecycle events, including suspension and resumption.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe, enabling potential eavesdropping on sensitive data transmitted over Bluetooth connections, unauthorized control of paired peripherals, and the establishment of persistent backdoors within local networks. Attackers could exploit this to perform man-in-the-middle attacks against nearby devices or harvest personally identifiable information stored in connected accessories. Furthermore, because Bluetooth operates at a lower level than many application-layer security controls, traditional endpoint detection systems may fail to identify these unauthorized interactions as malicious activity. This gap allows attackers to operate stealthily, potentially compromising user privacy and device integrity without triggering standard alerts.
Mitigation strategies must focus on both immediate patching and long-term architectural improvements. Users should immediately update their devices to the latest versions of iOS 27, iPadOS 27, macOS Golden Gate 27, tvOS 27, visionOS 27, or watchOS 27, as these releases contain the necessary fixes for improved state management and authorization enforcement. Developers must also review application code to ensure that Bluetooth permissions are requested only when strictly necessary and revoked promptly after use. Implementing strict session timeouts and re-authentication checks before accessing sensitive hardware interfaces can help mitigate similar risks in future software iterations. Additionally, organizations should enforce mobile device management policies that restrict which applications have access to critical system services like Bluetooth, thereby reducing the attack surface available to potential exploits.