CVE-2026-112434 in macOS
Summary
by MITRE • 10/26/2026
A logic issue was addressed with improved checks. This issue is fixed in macOS Golden Gate 27.2, macOS Sequoia 15.8.2, macOS Tahoe 26.7.2. An app may be able to gain root privileges.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/27/2026
The vulnerability described involves a critical logic flaw within the operating system's privilege escalation mechanisms, specifically affecting Apple's macOS ecosystem including versions such as Golden Gate 27.2, Sequoia 15.8.2, and Tahoe 26.7.2. This issue stems from insufficient validation checks during the process of granting elevated permissions to applications or user processes. In a secure system architecture, privilege escalation must be strictly controlled through rigorous authentication and authorization protocols that verify whether an entity has the legitimate right to assume root-level access. The identified logic error indicates that these verification steps were either bypassed, incorrectly evaluated, or lacked necessary boundary checks, allowing malicious actors to exploit this gap in security controls.
From a technical perspective, this flaw aligns with Common Weakness Enumeration categories such as CWE-269 Improper Privilege Management and potentially CWE-732 Incorrect Permission Assignment for Critical Resource if the logic error results in files or processes being assigned excessive access rights without proper justification. The core of the vulnerability lies in the application's ability to manipulate system calls or internal APIs that handle privilege transitions. By exploiting this logical inconsistency, an attacker can trick the operating system into believing that a standard user process possesses administrative credentials or authority it does not actually hold. This is distinct from buffer overflow vulnerabilities as it relies on flawed decision-making logic rather than memory corruption techniques.
The operational impact of such a vulnerability is severe due to the nature of root privileges in Unix-based systems like macOS. Root access provides unrestricted control over the entire operating system, including the ability to read, modify, or delete any file, install software without restrictions, and disable security features such as Gatekeeper or System Integrity Protection. If an application can gain these privileges through this logic flaw, it effectively compromises the integrity of the entire device. An attacker could use this access to exfiltrate sensitive data, establish persistent backdoors for remote control, or pivot to other devices on a connected network by leveraging compromised credentials stored within the system keychain or configuration files that are only accessible with elevated rights.
This type of vulnerability is often associated with ATT&CK techniques related to Privilege Escalation, specifically those involving exploitation of local vulnerabilities to gain higher-level permissions without requiring user interaction beyond initial execution. The presence of such a flaw undermines the principle of least privilege, which dictates that users and applications should operate with only the minimum levels of access necessary for their functions. By allowing an app to escalate to root status through flawed checks, the system fails to enforce this fundamental security boundary, creating a significant attack surface for local adversaries or potentially remote attackers if combined with other vectors like web application exploits that trigger the vulnerable code path.
Mitigation strategies primarily involve applying the vendor-provided software updates immediately upon release. The fixes in macOS Golden Gate 27.2, Sequoia 15.8.2, and Tahoe 26.7.2 address these logic issues by implementing stricter validation routines that ensure all privilege escalation requests are thoroughly verified against established security policies before being granted. Administrators should also enforce strict application control policies to limit which applications can request elevated privileges, utilizing tools like Mobile Device Management profiles or built-in macOS restrictions to prevent unauthorized software from executing with high-level permissions. Regular auditing of system logs for unusual privilege elevation events can further aid in detecting potential exploitation attempts while patches are being deployed across enterprise environments.