CVE-2026-20686Network attack vector

Sensitive user-data access via Contacts input validation

Published Mar 25, 2026 · Updated Mar 25, 2026

Improper input validation in Contacts in Apple iOS and iPadOS before 26.3 allows attackers to access sensitive user data through an app. Apple has not disclosed which Contacts interface accepts the untrusted input or how validation fails before data is returned. Exploitation requires code executing as an app, and the disclosed consequence is limited to reading sensitive user data.

CVSS severity5.3
Medium
EPSS probability0.19%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Improper input validation in Contacts in Apple iOS and iPadOS before 26.3 allows attackers to access sensitive user data through an app. Apple has not disclosed which Contacts interface accepts the untrusted input or how validation fails before data is returned. Exploitation requires code executing as an app, and the disclosed consequence is limited to reading sensitive user data.

The record

CVE
CVE-2026-20686
Published
Mar 25, 2026
Updated
Mar 25, 2026
Vendor
Apple
Product
iOS and iPadOS
Classifications
CWE-20, T1409
Attack vector
network
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Mar 25, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Mar 25, 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=0 <26.3

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Apple · iOS and iPadOSversion=0 <26.3

Published CVSS scores

5.3CISA-ADPCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/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 9, 2026Sep 15, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 15, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectornetwork
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-20Improper Input Validation
T1409Access Stored Application Data

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

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Your stack

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