CVE-2026-43679

Locked-device contact disclosure via FaceTime permission bypass

Published Aug 21, 2026 · Updated Aug 21, 2026

Permissions bypass in FaceTime on Apple watchOS before 26.4 allows physically proximate attackers to view contacts on a locked watch. The FaceTime contact-access path performs insufficient permissions checking while the device remains locked; Apple has not disclosed the specific request or function involved. Physical possession of an Apple Watch Series 6 or later is required, and the reported consequence is limited to viewing user contacts.

CVSS severity2.4
Low
EPSS probability0.12%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Permissions bypass in FaceTime on Apple watchOS before 26.4 allows physically proximate attackers to view contacts on a locked watch. The FaceTime contact-access path performs insufficient permissions checking while the device remains locked; Apple has not disclosed the specific request or function involved. Physical possession of an Apple Watch Series 6 or later is required, and the reported consequence is limited to viewing user contacts.

The record

CVE
CVE-2026-43679
Published
Aug 21, 2026
Updated
Aug 21, 2026
Vendor
Apple
Product
watchOS
Classifications
CWE-284, T1636.003
Attack vector
physical
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Aug 21, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Aug 21, 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 <26.4

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorphysical
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Apple · watchOSversion=0 <26.4

Published CVSS scores

2.4CISA-ADPCVSS:3.1/AV:P/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 10, 2026Sep 16, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 16, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectorphysical
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-284Improper Access Control
T1636.003Contact List

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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