CVE-2026-112483 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 modify protected parts of the file system.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/26/2026
The vulnerability described involves a critical flaw in path handling logic within Apple's operating systems, specifically affecting versions prior to macOS Golden Gate 27.2, macOS Sequoia 15.8.2, and macOS Tahoe 26.7.2. This issue stems from insufficient validation of file system paths during application execution or configuration processes. When an application interacts with the file system, it must rigorously sanitize input to ensure that operations are confined to intended directories. The lack of robust path normalization or canonicalization allows attackers to manipulate relative and absolute path references, effectively bypassing standard access controls designed to protect sensitive areas of the operating system.
From a technical perspective, this flaw aligns with CWE-22: Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory, commonly known as directory traversal. The core mechanism exploited here is likely related to how the application resolves symbolic links or processes relative path components such as dot-dot sequences. By crafting specific file paths that escape the designated sandbox or restricted area, an unprivileged process can write to locations reserved for system integrity and security policies. This bypasses the intended isolation boundaries established by macOS security frameworks like Sandbox and Gatekeeper, allowing unauthorized modifications to protected parts of the file system.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe because it undermines the fundamental trust model of the operating system. If an application can modify protected sections of the file system, it may overwrite critical configuration files, inject malicious code into legitimate binaries, or alter security policies that govern subsequent executions. This capability enables privilege escalation scenarios where a low-privilege user account gains the ability to affect high-privilege processes or system-wide settings. Furthermore, such modifications can persist across reboots and updates, creating a persistent backdoor or destabilizing the integrity of the entire platform. Attackers could leverage this for data exfiltration by modifying logging mechanisms to hide their activities or for denial-of-service attacks by corrupting essential system files.
In terms of threat intelligence frameworks, this vulnerability maps directly to MITRE ATT&CK technique T1546: Event Triggered Execution, specifically the sub-technique related to modification of trusted services or configuration files. It also relates to T1059: Command and Scripting Interpreter if the path manipulation leads to arbitrary code execution through modified scripts or launch agents. The ability to write to protected directories is a precursor for many advanced persistent threat campaigns that aim to establish persistence without triggering traditional antivirus signatures, as they operate within seemingly legitimate system paths.
Mitigation strategies primarily involve applying the provided software updates immediately. Apple has addressed this path handling issue in macOS Golden Gate 27.2, macOS Sequoia 15.8.2, and macOS Tahoe 26.7.2 by implementing stricter validation routines that canonicalize file paths before processing them. Administrators should ensure that all endpoints are patched to the latest available version within their respective release channels. For environments where immediate patching is not feasible, network segmentation can limit lateral movement if an application exploits this flaw. Additionally, enforcing strict Application Control policies via tools like Apple's Managed Preferences or third-party endpoint protection solutions can restrict which applications have write access to sensitive directories, thereby reducing the attack surface even before patches are applied. Regular auditing of file system integrity using built-in macOS utilities such as File Integrity Monitoring (FIM) can also help detect unauthorized modifications resulting from this vulnerability.