CVE-2026-84629 in iPadOS
Summary
by MITRE • 09/15/2026
This issue was addressed with additional entitlement checks. This issue is fixed in iOS 27 and iPadOS 27, tvOS 27, visionOS 27, watchOS 27. An app may be able to fingerprint the user.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/15/2026
The vulnerability described involves a flaw within Apple's operating system ecosystem that allows applications to perform device or user fingerprinting through insufficient access controls. This issue was addressed by implementing additional entitlement checks, which serve as a critical security mechanism to restrict what data an application can access based on its declared permissions and the principle of least privilege. By enforcing stricter validation of these entitlements during runtime, Apple has closed the gap that previously allowed apps to gather unique identifiers or behavioral patterns without explicit user consent or proper authorization. This fix is included in iOS 27, iPadOS 27, tvOS 27, visionOS 27, and watchOS 27, ensuring a consistent security posture across all major Apple platforms.
From a technical perspective, the core flaw lies in the lack of rigorous verification when an application attempts to access system-level information that could be used for identification purposes. In many cases, fingerprinting relies on collecting hardware-specific details, software configurations, or unique device attributes that remain relatively static over time. When entitlement checks are insufficient, malicious or poorly designed apps can bypass standard privacy safeguards and aggregate this data to create a persistent profile of the user. This capability undermines the effectiveness of built-in privacy features such as App Tracking Transparency, which relies on accurate attribution and consent mechanisms rather than passive surveillance through system-level exploits.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant for end-user privacy. Fingerprinting allows third-party applications to track users across different apps and services without their knowledge or permission. This can lead to unauthorized profiling, targeted advertising based on sensitive personal data, and potential exposure of user behavior patterns to malicious actors. In enterprise environments, such vulnerabilities could also facilitate insider threats or external attacks by enabling the exfiltration of organizational device information that might be used for further social engineering or targeted exploits against specific individuals within an organization.
This issue aligns with CWE-200, which covers Information Exposure, as it involves the unintended disclosure of system details to unauthorized entities. Furthermore, from a threat modeling perspective using the MITRE ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability relates to techniques under T1592, specifically Gather Victim Host Information and T1614, System Location Discovery, depending on the specific data points being harvested. The exploitation of such flaws enables adversaries to build detailed profiles that can be used for subsequent stages of an attack chain, including reconnaissance and targeting.
To mitigate this risk, users should ensure their devices are updated to iOS 27 or later versions across all supported platforms. Developers must adhere strictly to Apple's privacy guidelines and request only the minimum necessary permissions required for app functionality. Regular auditing of entitlements and runtime behavior can help identify any deviations from expected access patterns. Security teams in organizational settings should monitor device telemetry for unusual data collection activities and enforce mobile device management policies that restrict unnecessary app privileges, thereby reducing the attack surface available to potential exploiters seeking to leverage fingerprinting capabilities.