Description
A race condition was addressed with improved state handling. This issue is fixed in iOS 26.3 and iPadOS 26.3, macOS Sonoma 14.8.4, macOS Tahoe 26.3, tvOS 26.3, visionOS 26.3, watchOS 26.3. An app may be able to gain root privileges.
Published: 2026-02-11
Score: 7.0 High
EPSS: < 1% Very Low
KEV: No
Impact: Privilege Escalation to Root
Action: Immediate Patch
AI Analysis

Impact

A race condition in the operating system's state handling permits an application to obtain root privileges, creating a full system compromise. The flaw is identified as a concurrency error (CWE‑362) and enables the attacker to gain complete control over the device, potentially allowing data theft, persistence, or further exploitation. The vulnerability is not a denial‑of‑service issue but a direct elevation of privilege that can be used to subvert security controls.

Affected Systems

Apple devices running iOS, iPadOS, macOS, tvOS, visionOS, or watchOS could be affected. The issue is fixed in iOS 26.3, iPadOS 26.3, macOS Sonoma 14.8.4, macOS Tahoe 26.3, tvOS 26.3, visionOS 26.3, and watchOS 26.3. Versions prior to those must be treated as vulnerable.

Risk and Exploitability

The CVSS base score of 7.0 indicates high severity, but the EPSS score is less than 1% and the vulnerability is not listed in the CISA KEV catalog, signifying a low likelihood of widespread exploitation. Attackers would need to trigger the race condition, which typically requires interaction with a malicious app – this attack vector is inferred from the description. Once the race is triggered, the impact is complete system compromise. The vulnerability can be exploited through normal app execution, again an inference based on the wording, making it a significant threat that deserves timely mitigation.

Generated by OpenCVE AI on April 16, 2026 at 06:55 UTC.

Remediation

No vendor fix or workaround currently provided.

OpenCVE Recommended Actions

  • Update the operating system to the latest release that includes the fix for each platform (iOS 26.3, iPadOS 26.3, macOS Sonoma 14.8.4, macOS Tahoe 26.3, tvOS 26.3, visionOS 26.3, watchOS 26.3).
  • After installing the update, reboot the device to ensure all kernel and system components are running the patched code.
  • Enable automatic system updates or use an MDM solution to ensure all devices receive the update promptly and remain patched for future vulnerabilities.

Generated by OpenCVE AI on April 16, 2026 at 06:55 UTC.

Tracking

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Advisories

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History

Thu, 16 Apr 2026 07:15:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
Title Race Condition in Apple OSs Allowing Privilege Escalation to Root

Thu, 02 Apr 2026 20:30:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
Description A race condition was addressed with improved state handling. This issue is fixed in watchOS 26.3, tvOS 26.3, macOS Tahoe 26.3, macOS Sonoma 14.8.4, visionOS 26.3, iOS 26.3 and iPadOS 26.3. An app may be able to gain root privileges. A race condition was addressed with improved state handling. This issue is fixed in iOS 26.3 and iPadOS 26.3, macOS Sonoma 14.8.4, macOS Tahoe 26.3, tvOS 26.3, visionOS 26.3, watchOS 26.3. An app may be able to gain root privileges.

Wed, 25 Feb 2026 22:15:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
Metrics ssvc

{'options': {'Automatable': 'no', 'Exploitation': 'none', 'Technical Impact': 'total'}, 'version': '2.0.3'}


Fri, 13 Feb 2026 20:15:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
First Time appeared Apple ipados
Apple iphone Os
Weaknesses CWE-362
CPEs cpe:2.3:o:apple:ipados:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:apple:iphone_os:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:apple:macos:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:apple:tvos:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:apple:visionos:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:apple:watchos:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
Vendors & Products Apple ipados
Apple iphone Os
Metrics cvssV3_1

{'score': 7.0, 'vector': 'CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H'}


Thu, 12 Feb 2026 09:45:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
First Time appeared Apple
Apple ios And Ipados
Apple macos
Apple tvos
Apple visionos
Apple watchos
Vendors & Products Apple
Apple ios And Ipados
Apple macos
Apple tvos
Apple visionos
Apple watchos

Wed, 11 Feb 2026 23:15:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
Description A race condition was addressed with improved state handling. This issue is fixed in watchOS 26.3, tvOS 26.3, macOS Tahoe 26.3, macOS Sonoma 14.8.4, visionOS 26.3, iOS 26.3 and iPadOS 26.3. An app may be able to gain root privileges.
References

cve-icon MITRE

Status: PUBLISHED

Assigner: apple

Published:

Updated: 2026-04-02T18:15:39.849Z

Reserved: 2025-11-11T14:43:07.859Z

Link: CVE-2026-20617

cve-icon Vulnrichment

Updated: 2026-02-25T17:49:14.606Z

cve-icon NVD

Status : Modified

Published: 2026-02-11T23:16:05.263

Modified: 2026-04-02T19:21:10.737

Link: CVE-2026-20617

cve-icon Redhat

No data.

cve-icon OpenCVE Enrichment

Updated: 2026-04-16T07:00:10Z

Weaknesses