---
id: "CVE-2026-86990"
kind: "vulnerability"
aliases: ["CVE-2026-86990"]
title: "Apple iOS and macOS: malicious app can access camera without permission"
severity: "medium"
cvss: null
epss: null
exploited: false
status: "open"
category: "infrastructure"
products: []
ecosystems: []
tags: ["apple", "infrastructure", "ios", "ipados", "macos", "mobile-fleet", "visionos"]
not_affected_if: ["fixed-os-version", "non-apple-devices"]
published_at: "2026-10-26T21:20:37+00:00"
first_seen_at: "2026-10-26T21:55:22+00:00"
updated_at: "2026-10-26T21:56:29+00:00"
sources: [{"source": "nvd", "url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-86990", "first_seen_at": "2026-10-26T21:55:22+00:00"}]
---

# Apple iOS and macOS: malicious app can access camera without permission

A flaw in Apple's operating systems lets a malicious app access the camera without the user's permission. The attacker gets the camera feed from a device running the affected software, which is limited to the device's own camera.

_Summary, check and fix written by a model from the sources; labelled as such._

## How to check

- Check the OS version under Settings > General > About (iOS/iPadOS) or Apple menu > About This Mac (macOS)
- Compare against the fixed versions: `18.7.11`, `26.7.2`, `27.2`, and macOS Tahoe `26.7.2` or macOS Golden Gate `27.2`, visionOS `27.2`

## Fix

- Update iOS and iPadOS to `18.7.11`, `26.7.2`, or `27.2` depending on the release line
- Update macOS Tahoe to `26.7.2` or macOS Golden Gate to `27.2`
- Update visionOS to `27.2`

## Timeline

- 2026-10-26T21:55:22+00:00 nvd https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-86990

## From the sources

An access issue was addressed with improved access restrictions. This issue is fixed in iOS 18.7.11 and iPadOS 18.7.11, iOS 26.7.2 and iPadOS 26.7.2, iOS 27.2 and iPadOS 27.2, macOS Golden Gate 27.2, macOS Tahoe 26.7.2, visionOS 27.2. A malicious app may be able to access the camera without user permission.

---

_Free to read at a human pace. An API with keys and an MCP server are in preparation; early access: hello@infrastack.ai_