CVE-2026-112502 in macOS
Summary
by MITRE • 10/26/2026
A buffer overflow was addressed with improved bounds checking. 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 cause a denial-of-service.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/26/2026
The vulnerability described involves a buffer overflow condition within the operating system's core components, specifically addressed through enhanced bounds checking mechanisms in recent updates for macOS Golden Gate version 27.2, macOS Sequoia version 15.8.2, and macOS Tahoe version 26.7.2. A buffer overflow occurs when a program or process attempts to write more data to a block of memory than it was allocated to hold. In this context, the lack of proper validation allowed an application to exceed the boundaries of its designated memory space, potentially overwriting adjacent memory structures that are critical for system stability and security operations.
The technical flaw stems from insufficient input validation or improper handling of array indices during data processing routines. When bounds checking is not rigorously enforced, malicious actors can craft specific inputs designed to trigger this overflow condition. While the immediate impact described is a denial-of-service, buffer overflows are historically significant because they often serve as vectors for more severe exploits such as arbitrary code execution or privilege escalation if additional conditions like executable memory regions are present. The fix implemented in these macOS versions ensures that any write operation exceeding the allocated buffer size triggers an exception rather than corrupting adjacent memory, thereby neutralizing the immediate threat vector associated with this specific flaw.
From a classification perspective, this vulnerability aligns closely with CWE-120 Buffer Copy without Checking Size of Input and potentially CWE-787 Out-of-bounds Write depending on whether data is written beyond the buffer boundary or merely causes an overflow condition that leads to system instability. In terms of adversary behavior, this type of flaw can be leveraged within the MITRE ATT&CK framework under techniques related to Denial of Service, specifically those involving resource exhaustion through memory corruption attacks such as T1499 Endpoint Denial of Service or more broadly under exploitation for impact where stability is compromised.
The operational impact of exploiting this vulnerability allows an unprivileged application to cause a denial-of-service condition against the host system or specific services running on it. By triggering the buffer overflow, an attacker can crash applications or destabilize kernel-level processes, leading to system reboots or service interruptions. This disrupts availability for legitimate users and can be used as part of a broader attack strategy to degrade trust in the platform's reliability or to distract security teams while other malicious activities are conducted elsewhere on the network.
Mitigation strategies primarily involve applying the provided software updates which contain the corrected bounds checking logic. Administrators should ensure that all endpoints running macOS Golden Gate, Sequoia, or Tahoe are updated to their respective patched versions immediately upon availability. Additionally, implementing application whitelisting and strict code signing verification can help prevent unauthorized applications from executing on the system, thereby reducing the attack surface available for exploiting such memory corruption vulnerabilities. Regular patch management cycles remain critical in maintaining resilience against these types of low-to-medium complexity flaws that rely on specific software states to be effective.