# CVE-2026-20685: Path traversal in Private Cloud Compute Server Software

> An attacker in a privileged network position can leak sensitive information via a path handling issue in Apple Private Cloud Compute.

- **Severity:** Medium 6.5 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:A/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Local or same network only
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 18 May 2026
- **Updated:** 18 May 2026
- **Also known as:** GHSA-x835-6gm8-j3h4

## What is CVE-2026-20685?

CVE-2026-20685 is a medium-severity path traversal vulnerability in Apple Private Cloud Compute Server Software, published on 18 May 2026. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

An attacker in a privileged network position may be able to leak sensitive information. A path handling issue was addressed with improved validation. This issue is fixed in PCC Release 5E290.3.

Weakness: CWE-22 (Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory), CWE-20 (Improper Input Validation)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2026-20685?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Apple Private Cloud Compute.

## How do I fix CVE-2026-20685?

No fix has been published for CVE-2026-20685 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2026-20685 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2026-20685 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Public exploit code:

- CVE-2026-20685 - Draft or TODO (github_poc): https://github.com/HORKimhab/CVE-2026-20685

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2026-20685 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2026-20685 is a medium-severity path traversal vulnerability in Apple Private Cloud Compute Server Software, published on 18 May 2026. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2026-20685 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: Apple Private Cloud Compute Server Software. No package-level version data is available, so check the vendor advisory linked from the reference page.

Task:
1. Search the dependency manifests and lockfiles (for example package.json, package-lock.json, requirements.txt, poetry.lock, uv.lock, pom.xml, build.gradle, go.mod, Cargo.lock, Gemfile.lock) and any Dockerfiles for the affected packages, including transitive dependencies.
2. If an affected version is in use, upgrade it to the fixed version for its release line with the project's package manager, so the lockfile is regenerated. Prefer the smallest upgrade that fixes it.
3. If there is no fix, or the upgrade would break the build, do not guess: explain the risk and the safest workaround instead.
4. Run the tests and summarise what changed and why.
5. If nothing in the project is affected, say so and change nothing.

Reference: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-20685/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-20685/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-20685
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-20685
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2026-20685

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-20685/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.