CVE-2026-28951

Local root escalation via kernel authorization flaw

Published May 11, 2026 · Updated May 11, 2026

Incorrect authorization in the Apple kernel allows local users to gain root privileges through an app on affected iOS, iPadOS, and macOS releases. The kernel mishandles authorization state, but Apple has not disclosed the affected operation or the invalid state transition. Affected branches are iOS and iPadOS 18 before 18.7.9 and 26 before 26.5, macOS Sonoma before 14.8.7, Sequoia before 15.7.7, and Tahoe before 26.5; local app execution is required.

CVSS severity7.8
High
EPSS probability0.13%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Incorrect authorization in the Apple kernel allows local users to gain root privileges through an app on affected iOS, iPadOS, and macOS releases. The kernel mishandles authorization state, but Apple has not disclosed the affected operation or the invalid state transition. Affected branches are iOS and iPadOS 18 before 18.7.9 and 26 before 26.5, macOS Sonoma before 14.8.7, Sequoia before 15.7.7, and Tahoe before 26.5; local app execution is required.

The record

CVE
CVE-2026-28951
Published
May 11, 2026
Updated
May 11, 2026
Vendor
Apple
Product
iOS and iPadOS
Classifications
CWE-863, T1068
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. May 11, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. May 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=0 <18.7.9
  2. Affected versionversion=0 <26.5

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

Apple · iOS and iPadOSversion=0 <18.7.9; version=0 <26.5
Apple · macOSversion=0 <14.8.7; version=0 <15.7.7; version=0 <26.5

Published CVSS scores

7.8CISA-ADPCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/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 9, 2026Sep 15, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 15, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectorlocal
Privilegesauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-863Incorrect Authorization
T1068Exploitation for Privilege Escalation

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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