CVE-2026-20614: Path Traversal

Published Feb 11, 2026
·
Updated

A path handling issue was addressed with improved validation. This issue is fixed in macOS Sequoia 15.7.4, macOS Sonoma 14.8.4, macOS Tahoe 26.3. An app may be able to gain root privileges.

Other sources

Admin Framework. A parsing issue in the handling of directory paths was addressed with improved path validation.

— Apple

App Intents. A logic issue was addressed with improved restrictions.

— Apple

AppleEvents. An authorization issue was addressed with improved state management.

— Apple

AppleKeyStore. A use after free issue was addressed with improved memory management.

— Apple

AppleMobileFileIntegrity. A parsing issue in the handling of directory paths was addressed with improved path validation.

— Apple

Credit

Mickey Jin@@patch1t, jioundai, Amy (amys.website), @@cloudlldb, Kirin@@Pwnrin(Fudan University), LFY@@secsys(Fudan University), Anonymous(Trend Micro Zero Day Initiative), Yiğit Can YILMAZ@@yilmazcanyigit, Golden Helm Securities(Iru), Gergely Kalman@@gergely_kalman(Iru), Csaba Fitzl@@theevilbit(Iru), Gergely Kalman@@gergely_kalman, an anonymous researcher, Google Threat Analysis Group, Kirin@@Pwnrin, Asaf Cohen, Murray Mike, George Karchemsky@@gkarchemsky(Trend Micro Zero Day Initiative), Jian Lee@@speedyfriend433, Keisuke Hosoda, Xin'an Zhou, Juefei Pu, Zhutian Liu, Zhiyun Qian, Zhaowei Tan, Srikanth V. Krishnamurthy, Mathy Vanhoef, CVE-2025-59375, Ron Masas(BreakPoint), Chunyu Song(NorthSea), Rodolphe Brunetti@@eisw0lf(Lupus Nova), Michael DePlante@@izobashi(Trend Micro Zero Day Initiative), Noah Gregory (wts.dev), Pwn2car, Enis Maholli (enismaholli.com), CVE-2026-20622, Morris Richman@@morrisinlife, Vivek Dhar, ASI (RM) in Border Security Force, FTR HQ BSF Kashmir, Gongyu Ma@@Mezone0, LeminLimez, Nathaniel Oh@@calysteon, HanQing(TSDubhe), Nan Wang@@eternalsakura13, Tom Van Goethem, EntryHi, Wang Yu(Cyberserval), Ryan Dowd@@_rdowd, Johnny Franks (zeroxjf), Ron Elemans, Kenneth Chew, Bing Shi(Alibaba Group), Wenchao Li(Alibaba Group), Xiaolong Bai(Alibaba Group), (Indiana University Bloomington), Luyi Xing(Indiana University Bloomington), Vamshi Paili, Tony Gorez for Reverse Society@@tonygo_, 이동하 (Lee Dong Ha)(SSA Lab)

Affected Software

6 affected componentsFixes available
Apple macOS Sequoia<15.7.4
15.7.4
Apple macOS Tahoe<26.3
26.3
Apple macOS Sonoma<14.8.4
14.8.4
Apple macOS>=14.0<14.8.4
Apple macOS>=15.0<15.7.4
Apple macOS>=26.0<26.3

Remediation

Recommended actions to resolve this vulnerability, in priority order.

  1. Upgrade

    Upgrade to a fixed release to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 15.7.4
  2. Upgrade

    Upgrade to a fixed release to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 26.3
  3. Upgrade

    Upgrade to a fixed release to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 14.8.4
  4. Upgrade

    Upgrade macOS Sequoia to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 15.7.4
  5. Upgrade

    Upgrade macOS Sonoma to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 14.8.4
  6. Upgrade

    Upgrade macOS Tahoe to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 26.3
  7. Compensating control

    Treat this as an issue affecting multiple Apple software projects (including Admin Framework, App Intents, AppleEvents, AppleKeyStore, AppleMobileFileIntegrity, Bluetooth, CFNetwork, Compression, Contacts, CoreAudio, CoreMedia, CoreServices, File Bookmark, Focus, Foundation, GPU Drivers, Game Center, ImageIO, Kernel, LaunchServices, Mail, Messages, MigrationKit, Model I/O, Multi-Touch, NSOpenPanel, Notification Center, PackageKit, Remote Management, configd, dyld, libexpat, libnetcore, libxpc) and ensure those components are updated via the fixed macOS versions.

Event History

Feb 11, 2026
Data Sourced
via Apple·12:00 AM
DescriptionWeaknessAffected Software
Updated
via Apple·12:00 AM
DescriptionWeakness
Updated
via Apple·12:00 AM
Description
Updated
via Apple·12:00 AM
DescriptionWeaknessAffected Software
Updated
via Apple·12:00 AM
DescriptionAffected Software
Updated
via Apple·12:00 AM
Affected Software
CVE Published
via MITRE·10:58 PM
Data Sourced
via MITRE·10:58 PM
DescriptionWeakness
Data Sourced
via NVD·11:16 PM
DescriptionSeverityWeaknessAffected Software

Parent advisories

This vulnerability appears in the following advisories.

Peer vulnerabilities

Found alongside the following vulnerabilities.

Frequently Asked Questions

1

What is the severity of CVE-2026-20614?

CVE-2026-20614 is categorized as a high severity vulnerability due to its potential to allow apps to gain root privileges.

2

How do I fix CVE-2026-20614?

To fix CVE-2026-20614, update your macOS to the latest version: macOS Sequoia 15.7.4, macOS Tahoe 26.3, or macOS Sonoma 14.8.4.

3

What type of vulnerability is CVE-2026-20614?

CVE-2026-20614 is a path handling vulnerability related to improper validation in directory path parsing.

4

Which devices are affected by CVE-2026-20614?

CVE-2026-20614 affects Apple macOS versions, specifically Sequoia, Tahoe, and Sonoma before their respective fixed versions.

5

What potential impact does CVE-2026-20614 have on users?

The potential impact of CVE-2026-20614 is that malicious apps could exploit it to gain elevated root privileges, compromising system security.

Company

Resources

Contact

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