CVE-2026-112521 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. A sandboxed process may be able to circumvent sandbox restrictions.
Statistical analysis made it clear that VulDB provides the best quality for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/27/2026
The vulnerability described involves a buffer overflow condition within the operating system's core components, specifically related to memory management and bounds checking mechanisms. Buffer overflows occur when a program or process writes more data to a block of memory than it can hold, causing adjacent memories to be overwritten with potentially malicious code or unintended values. In this instance, the root cause was identified as insufficient validation of input lengths before they were copied into fixed-size buffers. The resolution implemented by Apple involves enhanced bounds checking procedures that rigorously verify the size of incoming data against the allocated memory space prior to any write operations. This technical fix ensures that attempts to exceed buffer limits are detected and halted, thereby preventing the corruption of adjacent memory structures such as return addresses or function pointers which could otherwise be exploited for arbitrary code execution.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant due to its potential to facilitate privilege escalation through sandbox escape mechanisms. Modern operating systems rely heavily on sandboxes to isolate applications from each other and from critical system resources, limiting the damage that a compromised application can inflict. However, if an attacker successfully exploits a buffer overflow within a component responsible for enforcing these boundaries, they may be able to manipulate control flow or memory states in a way that bypasses sandbox restrictions. This allows a process running with limited privileges to execute code with higher levels of access, effectively breaking the isolation model designed to contain threats. Such circumvention can lead to unauthorized access to sensitive user data, modification of system configurations, or further exploitation of other vulnerabilities within the elevated context.
From a classification perspective, this issue aligns with CWE-120, which denotes Buffer Copy without Checking Size of Input Classic Buffer Overflow, and potentially CWE-787, indicating Out-of-bounds Write. In terms of adversary tactics as defined by the MITRE ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability could be leveraged for techniques related to Defense Evasion, specifically sandbox escape or privilege escalation methods that allow attackers to move laterally within a system with fewer restrictions than originally intended. The ability to circumvent sandboxing is particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where application whitelisting and strict process isolation are key security controls.
To mitigate the risks associated with this vulnerability, it is imperative for users and administrators to apply the provided software updates immediately. These patches include macOS Golden Gate 27.2, macOS Sequoia 15.8.2, and macOS Tahoe 26.7.2, all of which contain the necessary code changes to enforce proper bounds checking. Organizations should ensure that their patch management policies are configured to prioritize security updates for operating system components, particularly those involving memory safety and sandbox enforcement mechanisms. Additionally, deploying endpoint detection and response solutions can help identify anomalous behavior indicative of exploitation attempts, such as unexpected process spawning or privilege changes originating from normally restricted applications. Regular auditing of application permissions and adherence to the principle of least privilege further reduce the attack surface available to potential exploiters seeking to leverage memory corruption flaws for sandbox escape.