CVE-2026-112558 in macOS
Summary
by MITRE • 10/26/2026
A permissions issue was addressed with additional sandbox restrictions. 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 access sensitive user data.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/27/2026
The vulnerability described involves a permissions escalation flaw within the operating system's sandboxing mechanism, specifically affecting Apple's macOS environment including versions such as Golden Gate 27.2, Sequoia 15.8.2, and Tahoe 26.7.2. This issue stems from an insufficient restriction in how applications are isolated from sensitive user data through mandatory access controls. The core technical flaw lies in the failure of the sandbox enforcement logic to properly validate or restrict file system access requests for certain application contexts. When an application is granted specific permissions, it may inadvertently retain elevated privileges that allow it to traverse beyond its intended boundary and read files belonging to other users or protected system directories. This represents a classic case where the principle of least privilege is violated due to incomplete isolation mechanisms within the operating kernel's security module.
From a technical perspective, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-269, which describes Improper Privilege Management, as well as CWE-732, concerning Incorrect Permission Assignment for Critical Resource. The sandboxing system in macOS relies on complex entitlements and profile configurations to limit application behavior. When these profiles are not correctly applied or when there is a logic error in the enforcement engine, an untrusted process can bypass expected restrictions. This allows malicious actors who have managed to execute code within such an app context to access sensitive user data that should remain confidential. The attack vector typically involves social engineering or exploitation of another vulnerability to gain initial execution rights on the target machine, after which this permissions flaw facilitates lateral movement and data exfiltration without triggering standard security alerts associated with privilege escalation attempts.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant for end-users whose privacy and data integrity are compromised. An attacker exploiting this issue could potentially access personal documents, photos, browser cookies, saved passwords stored in keychains, and other private information residing on the local filesystem. This capability directly supports reconnaissance and collection phases within cyber attacks, mapping closely to MITRE ATT&CK techniques such as T1083 File and Directory Discovery and T1552 Unsecured Credentials if sensitive authentication data is accessed. The ability of an app to access this data undermines user trust in the platform's security model and can lead to severe consequences including identity theft, financial fraud, or further compromise of linked cloud accounts that rely on local credential stores for seamless authentication.
Mitigation strategies primarily involve applying the vendor-provided software updates immediately upon release. The fixed versions mentioned, macOS Golden Gate 27.2, Sequoia 15.8.2, and Tahoe 26.7.2, contain patches that tighten sandbox restrictions to ensure proper isolation of application processes from sensitive user data. Administrators should verify patch compliance across all endpoints in their environment using centralized management tools. Additionally, users can reduce risk by adhering to strict permission policies within the operating system settings, ensuring that applications are granted only the minimum necessary access rights required for their function. Regular auditing of installed software and removal of unused or untrusted applications further reduces the attack surface available to potential exploiters seeking to leverage this permissions flaw.