CVE-2026-28906 Overview
CVE-2026-28906 is an information disclosure vulnerability affecting multiple Apple operating systems. The flaw allows a remote attacker to track users through their IP address due to improper state management. Apple addressed the issue through improved state management across iOS, iPadOS, macOS, and visionOS platforms. The vulnerability is classified under [CWE-359] Exposure of Private Personal Information to an Unauthorized Actor. The issue requires no authentication or user interaction and can be exploited over the network, making widespread privacy impact possible for unpatched Apple devices.
Critical Impact
An unauthenticated remote attacker can correlate and track Apple users via their IP address, undermining privacy protections built into Apple's operating systems.
Affected Products
- Apple iOS and iPadOS (fixed in iOS 18.7.9, iPadOS 18.7.9, iOS 26.5, iPadOS 26.5)
- Apple macOS (fixed in macOS Sequoia 15.7.7, macOS Sonoma 14.8.7, macOS Tahoe 26.5)
- Apple visionOS (fixed in visionOS 26.5)
Discovery Timeline
- 2026-05-11 - CVE-2026-28906 published to NVD
- 2026-05-13 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2026-28906
Vulnerability Analysis
The vulnerability resides in state management logic across Apple's operating systems. Improper handling of session or connection state permits a remote actor to observe and correlate a user's IP address across requests. This enables tracking that should otherwise be mitigated by Apple's privacy controls such as iCloud Private Relay and similar protections.
The weakness is categorized under [CWE-359], which covers exposure of private personal information. Because the IP address is exposed without authentication or user interaction, an attacker controlling a network endpoint can passively collect identifying network metadata. The EPSS score of 0.049% suggests limited active exploitation likelihood, but the privacy impact remains significant for individuals targeted by surveillance.
Root Cause
The root cause is improper state management within affected Apple operating system components. When the system fails to correctly maintain or isolate state related to network connections, the originating IP address leaks to remote endpoints that should not receive it. Apple's advisory confirms the fix consists of improved state management rather than a cryptographic or network-layer change.
Attack Vector
The attack vector is network-based and requires no privileges or user interaction. A remote server or service that an affected device communicates with can observe the user's IP address through the leaked state. Attackers operating tracking infrastructure, malicious advertising networks, or surveillance services can leverage this flaw to deanonymize users who rely on Apple's privacy features. The vulnerability does not provide code execution or data modification capabilities, focusing exclusively on confidentiality of network identifiers.
No public proof-of-concept code or exploit has been released for CVE-2026-28906. See the Apple Security Advisory 127110 for vendor technical details.
Detection Methods for CVE-2026-28906
Indicators of Compromise
- Unexpected outbound connections from Apple devices to unfamiliar tracking or analytics endpoints despite enabled privacy features.
- Network telemetry showing IP addresses appearing in third-party logs that should be masked by iCloud Private Relay or similar services.
- Apple devices running iOS, iPadOS, macOS, or visionOS versions earlier than the patched releases listed in Apple's advisories.
Detection Strategies
- Inventory Apple endpoints and compare installed OS versions against the patched builds (iOS/iPadOS 18.7.9 or 26.5, macOS Sequoia 15.7.7, Sonoma 14.8.7, Tahoe 26.5, visionOS 26.5).
- Monitor egress traffic from Apple devices for connections that bypass expected privacy relay infrastructure.
- Correlate device identifiers with external IP exposure in network flow logs to identify potential tracking patterns.
Monitoring Recommendations
- Continuously audit Apple OS patch levels through mobile device management (MDM) telemetry.
- Review DNS and proxy logs for traffic patterns suggesting state-leakage to third-party trackers.
- Subscribe to Apple security advisory feeds to track related privacy fixes and confirm deployment status across the fleet.
How to Mitigate CVE-2026-28906
Immediate Actions Required
- Update all Apple devices to the patched versions: iOS 18.7.9, iPadOS 18.7.9, iOS 26.5, iPadOS 26.5, macOS Sequoia 15.7.7, macOS Sonoma 14.8.7, macOS Tahoe 26.5, or visionOS 26.5.
- Enforce OS update compliance through MDM policies for enrolled iPhones, iPads, Macs, and Vision Pro devices.
- Notify users handling sensitive data or operating in high-risk environments to apply the update immediately.
Patch Information
Apple released the fix through coordinated security updates documented in advisories 127110, 127111, 127115, 127116, 127117, and 127120. The remediation introduces improved state management to prevent IP address exposure.
Workarounds
- No vendor-supplied workaround is documented; patching is the only supported remediation.
- Until patches are applied, route Apple device traffic through a trusted VPN to limit direct IP exposure to external endpoints.
- Enable iCloud Private Relay where supported, though it does not fully replace the patched state management fix.
# Verify installed OS version on macOS
sw_vers
# Trigger macOS software update check
sudo softwareupdate -l
sudo softwareupdate -i -a --restart
# For iOS/iPadOS/visionOS, enforce update via MDM command:
# InstallApplication / ScheduleOSUpdate with ProductVersion targeting 18.7.9 or 26.5
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
