CVE-2026-20697Network attack vector

Sensitive data access via incorrect Spotlight permissions

Published Mar 25, 2026 · Updated Mar 25, 2026

Improper access control in Apple macOS Spotlight allows attackers to use an app to read sensitive user data through incorrect permissions. Apple states that additional restrictions correct the permissions issue but does not disclose the protected data, request path, or exact incorrect authorization operation. Exploitation requires code execution as an app, and the documented consequence is limited to confidentiality loss with no reported data modification or service interruption.

CVSS severity5.3
Medium
EPSS probability0.40%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Improper access control in Apple macOS Spotlight allows attackers to use an app to read sensitive user data through incorrect permissions. Apple states that additional restrictions correct the permissions issue but does not disclose the protected data, request path, or exact incorrect authorization operation. Exploitation requires code execution as an app, and the documented consequence is limited to confidentiality loss with no reported data modification or service interruption.

The record

CVE
CVE-2026-20697
Published
Mar 25, 2026
Updated
Mar 25, 2026
Vendor
Apple
Product
macOS
Classifications
CWE-284, T1005
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 <14.8.5
  2. Affected versionversion=0 <15.7.5
  3. Affected versionversion=0 <26.4

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Apple · macOSversion=0 <14.8.5; version=0 <15.7.5; version=0 <26.4

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.

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-284Improper Access Control
T1005Data from Local System

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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