CVE-2026-20652
Published: 11 February 2026
Summary
CVE-2026-20652 is a high-severity Uncontrolled Resource Consumption (CWE-400) vulnerability in Apple Ipados. Its CVSS base score is 7.5 (High).
Operationally, exploitation aligns with the MITRE ATT&CK technique Application or System Exploitation (T1499.004); ranked at the 48.7th percentile by exploit likelihood (below the median); it is not currently listed in the CISA KEV catalog.
Threat & Defense at a Glance
Threat & Defense Details
Likely Mitigating ControlsAI
Per-CVE control mapping for this CVE has not run yet; the list below is derived from the weakness types (CWEs) cited in the NVD entry.
Limiting concurrent sessions directly prevents uncontrolled resource consumption by capping the number of active sessions per user or account.
Analysis identifies uncontrolled resource consumption indicative of denial-of-service or abuse attempts.
Contingency plan testing includes resource exhaustion scenarios to verify recovery, making it harder for attackers to sustain exploits that cause uncontrolled consumption.
Updated contingency plans include current procedures to detect, contain, and recover from resource exhaustion, limiting an attacker's ability to sustain impact from uncontrolled consumption.
Alternate site allows resumption of operations if resource exhaustion at the primary site is exploited to cause unavailability.
Alternate telecommunications services enable resumption of essential functions when primary services become unavailable due to uncontrolled resource consumption.
The team can analyze and respond to resource exhaustion incidents, reducing the impact of attacks that exploit uncontrolled consumption weaknesses.
Timely maintenance support and spare parts enable rapid recovery from failures induced by uncontrolled resource consumption, shortening the impact window of denial-of-service attacks.
MITRE ATT&CK Enterprise TechniquesAI
Why these techniques?
CWE-400 uncontrolled resource consumption in client software enables remote network exploitation causing application/system crash and DoS (A:H).
NVD Description
The issue was addressed with improved memory handling. This issue is fixed in Safari 26.3, iOS 18.7.5 and iPadOS 18.7.5, iOS 26.3 and iPadOS 26.3, macOS Tahoe 26.3, visionOS 26.3. A remote attacker may be able to cause a denial-of-service.
Deeper analysisAI
CVE-2026-20652 is a vulnerability stemming from inadequate memory handling in Apple software components. It affects Safari versions prior to 26.3, iOS and iPadOS prior to 18.7.5 and 26.3, macOS Tahoe prior to 26.3, and visionOS prior to 26.3. Classified under CWE-400 (Uncontrolled Resource Consumption), the flaw carries a CVSS v3.1 base score of 7.5, reflecting high severity due to its potential for disruption.
A remote attacker can exploit this vulnerability over the network with low attack complexity, requiring no privileges, user interaction, or special setup. Successful exploitation results in a denial-of-service condition, disrupting availability (A:H) without impacting confidentiality or integrity.
Apple security advisories confirm the issue was resolved through enhanced memory handling in the listed fixed releases. Mitigation involves updating to Safari 26.3, iOS 18.7.5 or 26.3, iPadOS 18.7.5 or 26.3, macOS Tahoe 26.3, or visionOS 26.3, as detailed in support documents such as https://support.apple.com/en-us/126346 and related pages.
Details
- CWE(s)