CVE-2026-112453 in macOS
Summary
by MITRE • 10/26/2026
A path handling issue was addressed with improved validation. 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 break out of its sandbox.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/27/2026
The vulnerability described involves a critical path handling flaw within the operating system's security architecture, specifically affecting the integrity checks performed during file access operations. This issue stems from insufficient validation of input paths provided by applications attempting to interact with the filesystem or other protected resources. In macOS environments, the sandboxing mechanism is designed to restrict application processes to specific directories and permissions, thereby limiting the potential damage if an application is compromised. However, when path handling logic fails to properly sanitize or validate directory traversal sequences such as dot-dot-slash characters, it can allow a malicious actor to bypass these restrictions. By crafting a specially constructed file path that exploits this validation gap, an attacker can trick the system into accessing files outside the designated sandbox boundary. This type of flaw is classically categorized under CWE-22 Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory and often maps to ATT&CK technique T1083 File and Directory Discovery or potentially T1564 Hidden Files and Directories depending on the specific exploitation vector used to hide malicious activity.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe, as it effectively neutralizes one of the primary defense-in-depth layers provided by modern operating systems for application isolation. If an app can break out of its sandbox, it gains access to sensitive user data, system configurations, and potentially other applications that were previously isolated from it. This escalation of privilege allows a compromised or maliciously installed application to read confidential information such as personal documents, browser cookies, credentials stored in keychains, or internal system files containing security policies. Furthermore, the ability to write outside the sandbox could enable an attacker to modify critical system components or inject code into other processes, leading to full system compromise. The risk is particularly acute for applications that handle untrusted input from external sources, such as web browsers processing maliciously crafted URLs or documents, email clients parsing attachments, or media players decoding malformed files containing path traversal payloads.
Mitigation strategies primarily rely on the timely application of vendor-provided updates. As indicated by the advisory, this issue has been resolved in macOS Golden Gate 27.2, macOS Sequoia 15.8.2, and macOS Tahoe 26.7.2. Administrators should ensure that all endpoints are patched to these versions or later to eliminate the path validation flaw at the kernel level. In addition to patching, organizations can implement additional controls such as enforcing strict application whitelisting policies using tools like Apple's Gatekeeper and Notarization requirements to prevent unsigned or maliciously modified binaries from executing. Network segmentation and endpoint detection and response solutions should also be utilized to monitor for anomalous file access patterns that might indicate an attempt to exploit this vulnerability, although the most effective defense remains keeping systems updated with the latest security patches provided by Apple.