{"dataType": "CVE_RECORD", "dataVersion": "5.2", "cveMetadata": {"cveId": "CVE-2026-20610", "assignerOrgId": "286789f9-fbc2-4510-9f9a-43facdede74c", "state": "PUBLISHED", "assignerShortName": "apple", "dateReserved": "2025-11-11T14:43:07.858Z", "datePublished": "2026-02-11T22:58:02.574Z", "dateUpdated": "2026-04-02T18:07:36.433Z"}, "containers": {"cna": {"problemTypes": [{"descriptions": [{"lang": "en", "description": "An app may be able to gain root privileges"}]}], "affected": [{"vendor": "Apple", "product": "macOS", "versions": [{"version": "0", "status": "affected", "lessThan": "26.3", "versionType": "custom"}]}], "descriptions": [{"lang": "en", "value": "This issue was addressed with improved handling of symlinks. This issue is fixed in macOS Tahoe 26.3. An app may be able to gain root privileges."}], "references": [{"url": "https://support.apple.com/en-us/126348"}], "providerMetadata": {"orgId": "286789f9-fbc2-4510-9f9a-43facdede74c", "shortName": "apple", "dateUpdated": "2026-04-02T18:07:36.433Z"}}, "adp": [{"metrics": [{"cvssV3_1": {"scope": "UNCHANGED", "version": "3.1", "baseScore": 7.8, "attackVector": "LOCAL", "baseSeverity": "HIGH", "vectorString": "CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H", "integrityImpact": "HIGH", "userInteraction": "NONE", "attackComplexity": "LOW", "availabilityImpact": "HIGH", "privilegesRequired": "LOW", "confidentialityImpact": "HIGH"}}, {"other": {"type": "ssvc", "content": {"id": "CVE-2026-20610", "role": "CISA Coordinator", "options": [{"Exploitation": "none"}, {"Automatable": "no"}, {"Technical Impact": "total"}], "version": "2.0.3", "timestamp": "2026-02-13T04:56:31.212601Z"}}}], "problemTypes": [{"descriptions": [{"lang": "en", "type": "CWE", "cweId": "CWE-59", "description": "CWE-59 Improper Link Resolution Before File Access ('Link Following')"}]}], "title": "CISA ADP Vulnrichment", "providerMetadata": {"orgId": "134c704f-9b21-4f2e-91b3-4a467353bcc0", "shortName": "CISA-ADP", "dateUpdated": "2026-02-26T14:44:23.153Z"}}]}}

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{"configurations": [{"nodes": [{"cpeMatch": [{"criteria": "cpe:2.3:o:apple:macos:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*", "matchCriteriaId": "E1EEEE88-5ADA-4C55-9C7C-397E904408DD", "versionEndExcluding": "26.3", "vulnerable": true}], "negate": false, "operator": "OR"}]}], "cveTags": [], "descriptions": [{"lang": "en", "value": "This issue was addressed with improved handling of symlinks. This issue is fixed in macOS Tahoe 26.3. An app may be able to gain root privileges."}], "id": "CVE-2026-20610", "lastModified": "2026-02-13T15:45:52.137", "metrics": {"cvssMetricV31": [{"cvssData": {"attackComplexity": "LOW", "attackVector": "LOCAL", "availabilityImpact": "HIGH", "baseScore": 7.8, "baseSeverity": "HIGH", "confidentialityImpact": "HIGH", "integrityImpact": "HIGH", "privilegesRequired": "LOW", "scope": "UNCHANGED", "userInteraction": "NONE", "vectorString": "CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H", "version": "3.1"}, "exploitabilityScore": 1.8, "impactScore": 5.9, "source": "134c704f-9b21-4f2e-91b3-4a467353bcc0", "type": "Secondary"}]}, "published": "2026-02-11T23:16:04.643", "references": [{"source": "product-security@apple.com", "tags": ["Release Notes", "Vendor Advisory"], "url": "https://support.apple.com/en-us/126348"}], "sourceIdentifier": "product-security@apple.com", "vulnStatus": "Analyzed", "weaknesses": [{"description": [{"lang": "en", "value": "CWE-59"}], "source": "134c704f-9b21-4f2e-91b3-4a467353bcc0", "type": "Secondary"}]}

{}

{"affected": [{"configurations": [{"platform": null, "status": "affected", "versions": {"scheme": "generic", "value": "[0,26.3)"}}], "product": "macos", "vendor": "apple"}], "analysis": {"en": {"generated_at": "2026-04-15T21:09:15.428391+00:00", "value": {"mitigation_remediation": ["Upgrade macOS to version 26.3 or later to receive the symlink handling fix", "If an upgrade cannot be performed immediately, restrict or sandbox applications that create or modify symbolic links to limit their ability to gain elevated privileges", "Monitor system logs for signs of privilege escalation attempts and apply additional access controls as needed"], "summary": {"action": "Immediate Patch", "impact": "Root Privilege Escalation"}, "threat_synthesis": {"affected_systems": "Apple macOS is affected. The vulnerability exists in all releases prior to macOS Tahoe 26.3. Users running earlier macOS versions are susceptible until they upgrade to 26.3 or later.", "description_and_impact": "This vulnerability arises from insufficient validation of symbolic links, enabling an application to execute arbitrary code with elevated privileges. The flaw can lead to full root access, allowing an attacker to compromise the entire system. The weakness corresponds to CWE\u201159, a pointer manipulation error that permits unchecked path resolution.", "risk_and_exploitability": "The CVSS score of 7.8 indicates high severity, but the EPSS score of less than 1% suggests a very low exploitation probability. The vulnerability is not listed in CISA's KEV catalog, further implying limited active exploitation. Attackers would need local application execution; thus the most likely vector is a malicious or compromised local program that can manipulate symbolic links."}}}}, "created": "2026-02-12T09:03:07.168215+00:00", "title": "macOS Privilege Escalation via Improper Symlink Handling", "updated": "2026-04-15T21:15:13.580585+00:00", "vendors": ["apple", "apple$PRODUCT$macos"]}