CVE-2026-112441 in macOS
Summary
by MITRE • 10/26/2026
This issue was addressed by removing the vulnerable code. 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 access sensitive user data.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/26/2026
The vulnerability described involves a flaw within the operating system's application sandboxing or permission management mechanisms that allows an unauthorized application to bypass intended restrictions and access sensitive user data. This type of issue typically stems from improper enforcement of security boundaries, where the isolation between applications fails to prevent one process from reading files, memory, or configuration settings belonging to another privileged context or a different user account. The root cause is often related to race conditions in permission checks, insufficient validation of file paths leading to directory traversal attacks, or misconfigured access control lists that inadvertently grant read permissions to broader groups than intended. Such flaws undermine the fundamental principle of least privilege, allowing malicious actors who have managed to execute code on the system to escalate their influence and exfiltrate confidential information such as personal documents, credentials, browsing history, or cryptographic keys stored by other applications.
From a technical perspective, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-200, which classifies it as an Exposure of Sensitive Information to an Unauthorized Actor. It may also relate to CWE-732 if the issue involves incorrect permission settings on files or directories that expose sensitive data. In terms of offensive security frameworks like MITRE ATT&CK, this behavior corresponds to techniques such as T1005 Data from Local System, where adversaries collect data directly from a compromised host without network communication, and potentially T1530 Data from Cloud Storage if the sensitive data resides in synchronized cloud directories accessible locally. The ability of an app to access this data implies that once initial code execution is achieved through any vector, such as phishing or drive-by downloads, the attacker gains persistent access to high-value targets without needing further exploitation steps, significantly increasing the impact of a single compromise event.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe because it compromises user privacy and organizational security posture simultaneously. For individual users, it means that personal identity information, financial records, and private communications are at risk of being stolen by malware or spyware installed on their devices. For enterprise environments, the breach can lead to significant regulatory violations under frameworks like GDPR or HIPAA due to the exposure of protected health information or personally identifiable information. Furthermore, this vulnerability facilitates lateral movement within a network if an attacker uses compromised endpoints as pivot points to access shared resources or cloud-based services that rely on local authentication tokens stored in accessible locations. The lack of immediate detection mechanisms for such silent data exfiltration makes it particularly dangerous, as victims may remain unaware of the breach until significant damage has occurred.
To mitigate this risk, organizations and users must apply the provided patches immediately. The issue is resolved in macOS Golden Gate 27.2, macOS Sequoia 15.8.2, and macOS Tahoe 26.7.2 by removing or correcting the vulnerable code that allowed unauthorized access. It is critical to ensure that automatic updates are enabled for all devices within an organization to minimize the window of exposure. Additionally, administrators should review application permissions using built-in privacy controls in macOS, restricting app access to sensitive folders such as Documents, Desktop, and Home directories where possible. Implementing strict endpoint detection and response policies can help identify anomalous file access patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts before data is fully exfiltrated. Regular security audits and penetration testing focused on sandbox escape techniques are also recommended to proactively identify similar weaknesses in custom or third-party applications running on the platform.