macOS Root Priv Escalation via Path Handle (14.8.3/15.7.3/26.2)
CVE-2026-20614 Published on February 11, 2026
A path handling issue was addressed with improved validation. This issue is fixed in macOS Sequoia 15.7.4, macOS Tahoe 26.3, macOS Sonoma 14.8.4. An app may be able to gain root privileges.
Vulnerability Analysis
CVE-2026-20614 is exploitable with local system access, and requires small amount of user privileges. This vulnerability is considered to have a low attack complexity. The potential impact of an exploit of this vulnerability is considered to be very high.
Weakness Type
What is a Directory traversal Vulnerability?
The software uses external input to construct a pathname that is intended to identify a file or directory that is located underneath a restricted parent directory, but the software does not properly neutralize special elements within the pathname that can cause the pathname to resolve to a location that is outside of the restricted directory.
CVE-2026-20614 has been classified to as a Directory traversal vulnerability or weakness.
Products Associated with CVE-2026-20614
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Affected Versions
Apple macOS:- Version unspecified and below 26.3 is affected.
- Version unspecified and below 15.7 is affected.
- Version unspecified and below 14.8 is affected.
Exploit Probability
EPSS (Exploit Prediction Scoring System) scores estimate the probability that a vulnerability will be exploited in the wild within the next 30 days. The percentile shows you how this score compares to all other vulnerabilities.