CVE-2026-112494 in macOS
Summary
by MITRE • 10/26/2026
A file quarantine bypass was addressed with additional checks. This issue is fixed in macOS Golden Gate 27.2, macOS Tahoe 26.7.2. An app may bypass Gatekeeper checks.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/26/2026
The vulnerability described involves a flaw within the Apple Gatekeeper security mechanism on macOS systems, specifically affecting versions prior to macOS Golden Gate 27.2 and macOS Tahoe 26.7.2. Gatekeeper is a critical security feature designed to protect Mac computers from malicious software by checking applications for digital signatures and verifying that they have been notarized by Apple. The reported issue centers on a file quarantine bypass, which allows an application or script to evade these essential verification checks. This flaw effectively undermines the integrity of the sandboxing and execution policies enforced by the operating system, creating a pathway for untrusted code to run with elevated privileges or without proper scrutiny.
From a technical perspective, this vulnerability likely stems from insufficient validation logic within the quarantine attribute handling subsystems. When files are downloaded or transferred into macOS environments, they often carry extended attributes that signal their origin and trustworthiness. Gatekeeper relies on these metadata indicators to determine whether an application should be allowed to execute. The bypass suggests that attackers can manipulate file paths, use symbolic links, or exploit race conditions in the quarantine attribute processing to trick the system into treating a malicious payload as a trusted, quarantined-free entity. This misclassification allows the malware to proceed with installation and execution without triggering the standard user prompts or blocking mechanisms intended to warn users of potential threats.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant for both individual users and enterprise environments relying on macOS endpoints. By bypassing Gatekeeper checks, threat actors can deploy malicious applications that appear legitimate to the operating system's security layers. This facilitates the execution of malware such as trojans, ransomware, or information stealers directly onto the victim's machine without detection by standard endpoint protection mechanisms tied to Gatekeeper. In enterprise settings where centralized management and strict application whitelisting are enforced, this bypass could allow unauthorized software to operate freely, potentially leading to data exfiltration, lateral movement within a network, or complete system compromise if combined with other exploitation techniques like privilege escalation exploits.
This type of vulnerability aligns closely with CWE-250, which refers to execution with unnecessary privileges, and CWE-863, concerning improper authorization checks. Furthermore, in the context of the MITRE ATT&CK framework, this behavior maps to T1059 Command and Scripting Interpreter or potentially T1204 User Execution if it involves tricking a user into running an app that has successfully bypassed initial gates. The ability to circumvent application control mechanisms is a critical step in many attack chains, allowing adversaries to establish persistence and maintain access without triggering alerts from basic security controls.
To mitigate the risks associated with this vulnerability, users must immediately update their systems to macOS Golden Gate 27.2 or macOS Tahoe 26.7.2 where these additional checks have been implemented. These updates likely include stricter validation of file attributes, enhanced verification of quarantine states during execution initiation, and potentially improved logging for audit trails when suspicious bypass attempts are detected. Organizations should also ensure that their endpoint detection and response solutions are updated to recognize any known indicators of compromise associated with exploiting this specific Gatekeeper flaw. Additionally, enforcing strict application whitelisting policies through tools like Apple's Managed Preferences or third-party EDR solutions can provide an additional layer of defense independent of the native Gatekeeper checks, ensuring that even if a bypass occurs, unauthorized applications are still blocked from executing based on predefined security policies.