CVE-2026-112427 in macOS
Summary
by MITRE • 10/26/2026
An authentication issue was addressed with improved state management. This issue is fixed in macOS Golden Gate 27.2. A remote attacker may be able to cause arbitrary code execution.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/26/2026
The vulnerability described involves a critical flaw in the authentication mechanism of Apple's macOS operating system, specifically within the component updated in version 27.2 under the codename Golden Gate. The core technical issue stems from inadequate state management during the authentication process. In secure software architecture, proper state management is essential to ensure that an application correctly tracks user sessions and validates credentials at every step of the interaction. When this logic fails, it can lead to a condition where the system incorrectly assumes a user has been authenticated or allows the manipulation of session tokens in ways that bypass intended security controls. This type of flaw typically falls under CWE-287 Improper Authentication or CWE-362 Concurrent Execution using Shared Resource with Improper Synchronization if race conditions are involved, but given the description of arbitrary code execution resulting from authentication issues, it strongly aligns with CWE-200 Exposure of Sensitive Information to an Unauthorized Actor or more critically CWE-94 Improper Control of Generation of Code.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe because it allows a remote attacker to achieve arbitrary code execution on the target system. Arbitrary code execution represents one of the most dangerous outcomes in cybersecurity, as it grants the attacker full control over the affected machine. This capability enables the installation of malware, exfiltration of sensitive data, modification or deletion of critical files, and potentially using the compromised device as a pivot point for further attacks within a network. The fact that this can be exploited remotely means that an adversary does not need physical access to the system nor prior local privileges, significantly lowering the barrier for exploitation. Attackers could craft malicious inputs or exploit specific sequences in the authentication handshake to trigger the state management flaw, thereby escalating their privilege level from unauthenticated user to a high-privilege entity such as root or SYSTEM.
From an offensive security perspective, this vulnerability maps directly to several techniques within the MITRE ATT&CK framework. The initial access and execution phases are relevant here, particularly T1078 Valid Accounts if the attacker leverages stolen credentials due to poor session management, or more likely T1203 Exploitation for Client Execution if the attack vector involves tricking a user into triggering the flaw through an application interface. Additionally, since the issue relates to authentication bypass leading to code execution, it may also relate to T1556 Modification of Authentication Process, although in this case, the modification is likely unintentional due to the software bug rather than deliberate tampering by the attacker. The persistence and privilege escalation capabilities gained through arbitrary code execution would then allow for further adherence to techniques such as T1078 Valid Accounts or T1098 Account Manipulation if the attacker seeks to maintain long-term access.
Mitigation strategies primarily rely on applying the official patch provided in macOS Golden Gate 27.2, which addresses the underlying state management logic errors within the authentication subsystem. System administrators and individual users must ensure that their devices are updated immediately upon availability of this version. Beyond patching, organizations should implement network segmentation to limit lateral movement in case a device is compromised despite mitigation efforts. Monitoring for unusual outbound connections or unexpected process executions can help detect exploitation attempts early. Furthermore, enforcing multi-factor authentication adds an additional layer of security that may mitigate the impact if the initial authentication state manipulation succeeds but requires secondary verification steps that are not susceptible to the same flaw. Regular vulnerability assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar logic flaws in other components before they can be exploited by adversaries.