CVE-2026-112493 in macOS
Summary
by MITRE • 10/26/2026
A downgrade issue was addressed with additional version 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 • 10/26/2026
The vulnerability described involves a critical flaw in the version checking mechanisms within Apple's operating system software, specifically affecting versions prior to macOS Golden Gate 27.2, macOS Sequoia 15.8.2, and macOS Tahoe 26.7.2. This issue is classified as a downgrade attack vector where an attacker can manipulate or bypass integrity checks that are designed to ensure the authenticity and version consistency of system components or applications. By exploiting insufficient validation logic during the update or execution process, malicious actors can force the system to accept older, potentially vulnerable versions of software binaries or configuration files that lack recent security patches. This manipulation allows for a state where the operating system operates with known weaknesses despite having newer updates available in other contexts, effectively undermining the defense-in-depth strategy employed by modern OS architectures.
From a technical perspective, this flaw represents a failure to enforce strict version constraints during critical operational phases such as application launch or system initialization. The absence of robust additional version checks creates an opportunity for privilege escalation attacks where code execution can be achieved with elevated permissions that should otherwise be restricted. In the context of macOS security architecture, which relies heavily on sandboxing and role-based access control to limit damage from compromised applications, this vulnerability bypasses these safeguards by tricking the system into trusting a downgraded component that has been tampered with or is inherently insecure due to its age. The exploitation likely involves intercepting version negotiation protocols or modifying local state files to present an older version identifier to the validation routine, thereby satisfying legacy compatibility checks while introducing exploitable code paths that were previously patched in newer releases.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe as it directly facilitates unauthorized privilege escalation from a standard user context to root privileges. Root access provides unrestricted control over the operating system, allowing attackers to install persistent backdoors, exfiltrate sensitive data, modify security policies, and disable protective mechanisms such as System Integrity Protection or FileVault encryption controls. This level of compromise effectively neutralizes most endpoint protection strategies since the attacker gains full administrative rights without detection by standard monitoring tools that rely on user-level activity logs. The ability to gain root privileges means that an initial foothold in a less privileged account can be rapidly expanded into complete system domination, impacting not only individual users but also enterprise environments where such escalation could lead to lateral movement across networked devices and compromise of centralized management servers.
This vulnerability aligns with Common Weakness Enumeration (CWE) categories related to version control failures and privilege escalation mechanisms. Specifically it relates to CWE-829 which covers the inclusion of functionality from untrusted sources without proper validation, as well as aspects of CWE-74 where improper neutralization of special elements leads to security vulnerabilities through manipulation of expected inputs. In terms of tactical mapping within the MITRE ATT&CK framework this behavior corresponds to techniques involving privilege escalation and defense evasion particularly those that exploit software supply chain integrity or versioning logic flaws such as T1068 exploitation for privilege escalation or potentially components related to persistence mechanisms like T1547 boot or logon autostart execution if combined with other post-exploitation tools. The downgrade aspect also touches upon aspects of supply chain compromise where trust in the update mechanism is subverted allowing malicious code injection under the guise of legitimate software operations.
Mitigation strategies primarily involve immediate application of the provided patches which address these version checking deficiencies by implementing stricter validation logic that verifies not just the presence but the exact cryptographic and semantic integrity of loaded components against expected baseline versions. Organizations should ensure all endpoints are updated to macOS Golden Gate 27.2, macOS Sequoia 15.8.2, or macOS Tahoe 26.7.2 as these releases contain the necessary code fixes to prevent downgrade attacks through enhanced version verification routines. Beyond patching administrators should enforce strict application control policies using tools like Apple's Managed Preferences and configuration profiles that restrict execution of unsigned or non-approved binaries thereby reducing the attack surface available for exploitation even if a vulnerability exists in core system components. Additionally implementing network segmentation and monitoring for anomalous privilege escalation events can help detect attempts to exploit this flaw before full root access is achieved providing an additional layer of defense against potential compromise scenarios involving version manipulation attacks.