CVE-2026-20677Network attack vector

Sandbox bypass via symbolic-link race

Published Feb 11, 2026 · Updated Feb 11, 2026

A symbolic-link race in Messages in Apple iOS and iPadOS, macOS, and visionOS allows attackers to bypass sandbox restrictions. Messages handles symbolic links across a time-of-check/time-of-use race window, allowing the target validated by the sandbox to differ from the target later used. Execution of a shortcut is required, and the published impact is limited to bypassing sandbox restrictions; Apple has not disclosed the accessed resource or resulting privilege.

CVSS severity9.0
Critical
EPSS probability0.29%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
Coverage for this vulnerability

See if you're affected

Explore vulnerability checks for your environment with Hinoki.

Book a demo

Summary

What happened

A symbolic-link race in Messages in Apple iOS and iPadOS, macOS, and visionOS allows attackers to bypass sandbox restrictions. Messages handles symbolic links across a time-of-check/time-of-use race window, allowing the target validated by the sandbox to differ from the target later used. Execution of a shortcut is required, and the published impact is limited to bypassing sandbox restrictions; Apple has not disclosed the accessed resource or resulting privilege.

The record

CVE
CVE-2026-20677
Published
Feb 11, 2026
Updated
Feb 11, 2026
Vendor
Apple
Product
iOS and iPadOS
Classifications
CWE-367, CWE-362
Attack vector
network
Privileges
unauthenticated

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

Compare your product and version with the public record. A matching version still requires validation against your environment.

Is a vulnerable build present?

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

  1. Affected versionversion=unspecified <18.7
  2. Affected versionversion=unspecified <26.3

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Apple · iOS and iPadOSversion=unspecified <18.7; version=unspecified <26.3
Apple · visionOSversion=unspecified <26.3
Apple · macOSversion=unspecified <14.8; version=unspecified <26.3

Published CVSS scores

9.0NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H
9.0CISA-ADPCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H

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.

Daily unique IPsNo honeypot observations are available for this CVE in the selected window.

No observations available

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

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-367Time-of-check Time-of-use (TOCTOU) Race Condition
CWE-362Concurrent Execution using Shared Resource with Improper Synchronization ('Race Condition')

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.

Technologies

Your stack

See the directory against your own environment.

Your stack

Check the software in your environment

Book a demo to see how Hinoki identifies affected software and validates exploitability in your environment.

Book a demo