CVE-2026-84624 in iPadOS
Summary
by MITRE • 09/15/2026
A permissions issue was addressed with improved path validation. This issue is fixed in iOS 26.7 and iPadOS 26.7, iOS 27 and iPadOS 27, macOS Golden Gate 27, macOS Sequoia 15.8, macOS Tahoe 26.7, visionOS 27. A sandboxed app may be able to access restricted files.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/15/2026
The vulnerability described involves a failure in path validation mechanisms within the operating system's security architecture, specifically affecting iOS, iPadOS, macOS, and visionOS platforms. This flaw allows applications that are confined by sandboxing restrictions to bypass intended file access controls. In modern mobile and desktop operating systems, sandboxes are critical for isolating application processes from one another and from sensitive system resources. By design, a sandboxed app should only have access to its own container directory and explicitly granted shared resources. However, the identified permissions issue stems from insufficient validation of file paths provided by applications or internal components during resource requests. When path validation is inadequate, an attacker can manipulate input strings to traverse outside the allowed directories, effectively escaping the sandbox boundary.
This type of vulnerability is classically categorized under CWE-22 Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory, which falls within the broader category of CWE-787 Out-of-bounds Write or Access if it leads to memory corruption, though in this context, it primarily represents an unauthorized access vector. The core technical flaw lies in how the operating system resolves relative and absolute paths before granting file descriptor permissions. If the validation logic fails to canonicalize paths correctly or does not adequately check for directory traversal sequences such as dot-dot-slash patterns against a whitelist of allowed directories, the security boundary is compromised. This allows a maliciously crafted application, which may have been downloaded from an untrusted source or exploited via another vector like cross-site scripting in a web view, to read sensitive files that should remain inaccessible.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant because it undermines the fundamental trust model of the operating system. If a sandboxed app can access restricted files, it could potentially exfiltrate user data such as contacts, messages, photos, or authentication tokens stored in protected directories. Furthermore, if the application has write permissions to certain areas, it could modify critical configuration files or inject malicious code into other processes that rely on those configurations. This escalation of privilege from a low-privilege sandboxed context to a high-privilege system level enables attackers to achieve persistent access and deeper compromise of the device. In enterprise environments, this could lead to data breaches involving proprietary information stored locally on company-managed devices running these operating systems.
From an attacker's perspective, exploiting this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1530 Data from Local System, where adversaries collect sensitive files directly from compromised endpoints without needing network exfiltration initially. It also relates to T1059 Command and Scripting Interpreter if the accessed files are used to execute further commands, or T1217 Browser Information Discovery if web views within apps are leveraged to access local resources. The ability to read restricted files is often a precursor to more severe attacks such as credential dumping or lateral movement in networked environments where these devices serve as entry points.
Mitigation strategies primarily involve the software updates provided by Apple, which address this issue through improved path validation logic. Administrators and users should ensure that all affected platforms are updated to iOS 26.7, iPadOS 26.7, iOS 27, iPadOS 27, macOS Golden Gate 27, macOS Sequoia 15.8, macOS Tahoe 26.7, or visionOS 27 as soon as possible. For developers creating applications for these platforms, it is essential to implement strict input validation and use secure APIs that handle path resolution safely. Developers should avoid constructing file paths using user-supplied data without rigorous sanitization and should rely on the operating system's built-in security features rather than custom permission checks whenever possible. Regular auditing of application code against CWE-22 guidelines can help prevent similar vulnerabilities in future releases, ensuring that sandbox boundaries remain intact and effective against unauthorized access attempts.