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Mallory
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Traffic interception (MITM) via logic issue in Apple Kernel/libnetcore

IdentifiersCVE-2026-20671CWE-345

CVE-2026-20671 is a logic flaw in Apple’s networking stack components (reported in Apple advisories as affecting both the Kernel and libnetcore) that was addressed by “improved checks.” Apple indicates that an attacker in a privileged network position may be able to intercept network traffic, implying improper verification/validation in network-path security handling that can enable man-in-the-middle style interception. The issue is fixed in watchOS 26.3, tvOS 26.3, macOS Tahoe 26.3, macOS Sonoma 14.8.4, macOS Sequoia 15.7.4, iOS 18.7.5/iPadOS 18.7.5, visionOS 26.3, and iOS 26.3/iPadOS 26.3.

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For your environment

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ANALYST BRIEF

Impact, mitigation & remediation

What it means. What to do now. Patch path, mitigations, and the assume-compromise checklist.

Impact

What an attacker gets, and what they’ve been doing with it.

An attacker with a privileged position on the network path may be able to intercept a victim’s network traffic (i.e., MITM/traffic interception), potentially undermining confidentiality and integrity of communications depending on higher-layer protections (e.g., whether end-to-end encryption is in use).

Mitigation

If you can’t patch tonight, do this now.

No vendor workaround is described in the provided advisory content. Operationally, reduce exposure to on-path/privileged network attackers by avoiding untrusted networks, enforcing strong enterprise Wi‑Fi and network access controls, and ensuring sensitive communications use end-to-end encrypted channels (e.g., properly validated TLS and/or VPN) until patching is complete.

Remediation

Patch, then assume compromise.

Apply Apple security updates that include the fix for CVE-2026-20671: watchOS 26.3, tvOS 26.3, macOS Tahoe 26.3, macOS Sonoma 14.8.4, macOS Sequoia 15.7.4, iOS 18.7.5 and iPadOS 18.7.5, visionOS 26.3, iOS 26.3 and iPadOS 26.3.
PUBLIC EXPLOITS

Exploits

No public exploits tracked yet. Mallory keeps watching.

VALID 0 / 0 TOTALView more in app

No public exploit code observed for this vulnerability.

EXPOSURE SURFACE

Affected products & vendors

Products and vendors Mallory has correlated with this vulnerability. Open in Mallory to drill down to specific CPE configurations and version ranges.

VendorProductType
AppleIpadosoperating_system
AppleIphone Osoperating_system
AppleMacosoperating_system
AppleTvosoperating_system
AppleVisionosoperating_system
AppleWatchosoperating_system

Vendor-confirmed product mapping. Mallory continuously reconciles this list against your asset inventory.

What this page doesn’t show

The version that knows your environment.

This page is what’s public. Mallory adds the parts that aren’t: which of your assets are affected, which adversaries are exploiting it right now, which detections to deploy, and what to do tonight.
Exposure mapping

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Threat actor evidence

Every observed campaign linking this CVE to a named adversary.

Associated malware

Malware families riding this exploit, with evidence and IOCs.

Detection signatures

YARA, Sigma, Snort, and vendor rules, auto-deployed to your SIEM.

Vendor-by-vendor mapping

Cross-references every affected SKU, including bundled OEM variants.

Social activity9

Community discussion across Reddit, Mastodon, and other social sources.