CVE-2026-112540 in macOS
Summary
by MITRE • 10/26/2026
An integer overflow was addressed with improved input validation. This issue is fixed in macOS Golden Gate 27.2, macOS Sequoia 15.8.2, macOS Tahoe 26.7.2. Processing a maliciously crafted file may lead to unexpected app termination.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/27/2026
The vulnerability described involves an integer overflow condition within the application logic responsible for processing specific file formats on Apple operating systems including macOS Golden Gate 27.2, macOS Sequoia 15.8.2, and macOS Tahoe 26.7.2. An integer overflow occurs when a calculation results in a numeric value that exceeds the maximum capacity of the allocated storage type or variable size. In this context, the application likely fails to properly validate input data before performing arithmetic operations on file metadata or buffer sizes. When an attacker crafts a malicious file containing specific values designed to trigger this mathematical boundary violation, the resulting miscalculation can lead to incorrect memory allocation or pointer manipulation. This flaw is categorized under CWE-190 Integer Overflow or Wraparound within the Common Weakness Enumeration framework, which highlights risks associated with improper handling of numeric limits that often serve as precursors to more severe exploitation vectors such as buffer overflows or arbitrary code execution if not contained by modern security mitigations.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is primarily characterized by a denial of service condition manifested through unexpected application termination. While the immediate effect described is the crash of the affected process, integer overflow vulnerabilities are frequently exploited for memory corruption attacks that could potentially lead to remote code execution depending on how the flawed data flows into subsequent operations. The fact that processing a maliciously crafted file triggers this behavior indicates that the vulnerability can be triggered remotely or via local user interaction if an attacker can persuade a victim to open the specially constructed document. This aligns with ATT&CK technique T1203 Exploitation for Client Execution, where attackers use vulnerable applications as a vector to compromise systems. The crash itself disrupts productivity and may cause data loss if unsaved work is involved, but it also serves as an indicator of underlying memory safety issues that could be leveraged by sophisticated threat actors in more complex attack chains involving heap spraying or return-oriented programming techniques.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability center on the implementation of robust input validation mechanisms as noted in the fix description. Developers must ensure that all numeric inputs derived from external sources are validated against expected ranges before being used in arithmetic operations. This includes checking for potential overflow conditions using safe math libraries or explicit boundary checks prior to allocation or indexing. Additionally, adopting memory-safe programming languages where possible can significantly reduce the risk of such low-level errors. For end-users and system administrators, applying the provided updates for macOS Golden Gate 27.2, Sequoia 15.8.2, and Tahoe 26.7.2 is critical to patching this flaw. Organizations should also enforce strict file type policies and utilize sandboxing techniques to limit the potential impact of any remaining vulnerabilities in applications that process untrusted data. Regular security audits focusing on input validation logic are recommended to prevent similar integer-related flaws from being introduced into future software versions.