CVE-2026-20666

Sensitive data access via authorization state mishandling

Published Feb 11, 2026 · Updated Feb 11, 2026

Improper authorization in NSOpenPanel in Apple macOS before 26.3 allows local users to access sensitive user data through an app. NSOpenPanel mishandles authorization state when granting an app access, but Apple has not disclosed the affected state transition or data boundary. Exploitation requires the ability to run an app under a local account; the published impact is limited to reading sensitive user data.

CVSS severity5.5
Medium
EPSS probability0.11%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Improper authorization in NSOpenPanel in Apple macOS before 26.3 allows local users to access sensitive user data through an app. NSOpenPanel mishandles authorization state when granting an app access, but Apple has not disclosed the affected state transition or data boundary. Exploitation requires the ability to run an app under a local account; the published impact is limited to reading sensitive user data.

The record

CVE
CVE-2026-20666
Published
Feb 11, 2026
Updated
Feb 11, 2026
Vendor
Apple
Product
macOS
Classifications
CWE-285, T1005
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Feb 11, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Feb 11, 2026Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

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Is a vulnerable build present?

Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.

  1. Affected versionversion=unspecified <26.3

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

Apple · macOSversion=unspecified <26.3

Published CVSS scores

5.5CISA-ADPCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N
5.5NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N

CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.

Attacks

What attackers are doing with it

Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.

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No observations available

Sep 10, 2026Sep 16, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 16, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectorlocal
Privilegesauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-285Improper Authorization
T1005Data from Local System

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

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Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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