How severe is CVE-2026-20688?

CVE-2026-20688 has a CVSS 3.x base score of 9.3, rated critical severity. It is exploitable over local access with low attack complexity, requires no privileges and no user interaction. Impact on confidentiality is high, integrity high, and availability high.

Is CVE-2026-20688 being actively exploited?

It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 0% (19th percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.

What products are affected by CVE-2026-20688?

CVE-2026-20688 primarily affects Apple Ipados. In total, 4 product configurations (CPEs) are listed as vulnerable; see the affected-products list for the exact versions.

How do I fix CVE-2026-20688?

Review the linked vendor and NVD advisories for patched versions and mitigations, then upgrade or apply the recommended workaround. Given its critical severity, prioritise patching exposed systems.

Does CVE-2026-20688 have an EU (EUVD) identifier?

Yes. CVE-2026-20688 is tracked in the ENISA EU Vulnerability Database (EUVD) as EUVD-2026-15059.

When was CVE-2026-20688 published?

CVE-2026-20688 was published on 2026-03-25 and last updated on 2026-06-17.

CVE-2026-20688

CVE-2026-20688 is a critical-severity vulnerability in Apple Ipados with a CVSS 3.x base score of 9.3. It is not currently listed as actively exploited by CISA, and its EPSS exploit-prediction score is low. The underlying weakness is classified as CWE-22.

Key facts

Severity: Critical (CVSS 3.x base score 9.3)
EPSS exploit prediction: 0% (19th percentile)
Actively exploited: Not listed in CISA KEV
EU (EUVD) id: EUVD-2026-15059
Weakness: CWE-22
Affected product: Apple Ipados
Published: 2026-03-25
Last modified: 2026-06-17

Description

A path handling issue was addressed with improved validation. This issue is fixed in iOS 26.4 and iPadOS 26.4, macOS Sequoia 15.7.5, macOS Sonoma 14.8.5, macOS Tahoe 26.4, visionOS 26.4. An app may be able to break out of its sandbox.

Frequently asked questions

What is CVE-2026-20688?: A path handling issue was addressed with improved validation. This issue is fixed in iOS 26.4 and iPadOS 26.4, macOS Sequoia 15.7.5, macOS Sonoma 14.8.5, macOS Tahoe 26.4, visionOS 26.4. An app may be able to break out of its sandbox.
How severe is CVE-2026-20688?: CVE-2026-20688 has a CVSS 3.x base score of 9.3, rated critical severity. It is exploitable over local access with low attack complexity, requires no privileges and no user interaction. Impact on confidentiality is high, integrity high, and availability high.
Is CVE-2026-20688 being actively exploited?: It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 0% (19th percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.
What products are affected by CVE-2026-20688?: CVE-2026-20688 primarily affects Apple Ipados. In total, 4 product configurations (CPEs) are listed as vulnerable; see the affected-products list for the exact versions.
How do I fix CVE-2026-20688?: Review the linked vendor and NVD advisories for patched versions and mitigations, then upgrade or apply the recommended workaround. Given its critical severity, prioritise patching exposed systems.
Does CVE-2026-20688 have an EU (EUVD) identifier?: Yes. CVE-2026-20688 is tracked in the ENISA EU Vulnerability Database (EUVD) as EUVD-2026-15059.
When was CVE-2026-20688 published?: CVE-2026-20688 was published on 2026-03-25 and last updated on 2026-06-17.

References

Affected products (4)

cpe:2.3:o:apple:ipados:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:apple:iphone_os:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:apple:macos:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:apple:visionos:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*

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