CVE-2026-112601 in macOS
Summary
by MITRE • 10/26/2026
An integer overflow was addressed with improved input validation. This issue is fixed in macOS Sequoia 15.8.2. An app may be able to cause a denial-of-service.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/27/2026
The vulnerability described involves an integer overflow condition within the software components of Apple's operating system, specifically affecting versions prior to macOS Sequoia 15.8.2. Integer overflows occur when an arithmetic operation results in a value that exceeds the maximum capacity for the data type used to store it. In this context, the application likely performs calculations involving memory allocation sizes or buffer lengths without adequate bounds checking. When such a calculation wraps around due to exceeding the integer limit, it can result in a significantly smaller allocated size than intended by the developer. This discrepancy creates a critical mismatch between the expected and actual memory footprint of an object or data structure within the application's runtime environment.
The primary technical flaw lies in insufficient input validation during the processing of specific user-controlled inputs that trigger these arithmetic operations. Instead of verifying that the resulting value remains within safe, predictable limits before proceeding with memory allocation or buffer manipulation, the code proceeds with the erroneous small size. This lack of rigorous boundary checks allows an attacker to manipulate internal state variables by supplying crafted data that forces the integer calculation into a wrap-around scenario. The absence of proper validation mechanisms means the application fails to detect this anomalous condition, leading directly to unstable memory management practices that compromise the integrity and stability of the running process.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is primarily centered on denial-of-service conditions rather than arbitrary code execution or privilege escalation in its current manifestation. Because the integer overflow leads to incorrect memory allocation sizes, subsequent operations attempting to write data based on the expected larger size will overwrite adjacent memory regions beyond the allocated buffer boundaries. This out-of-bounds write can corrupt critical application data structures, trigger segmentation faults, or cause the operating system kernel to terminate the offending process abruptly. Consequently, an unauthenticated attacker who can interact with the vulnerable component through a local interface or network service may force the application to crash repeatedly, thereby denying legitimate users access to the affected functionality and potentially disrupting broader system operations if critical services are impacted.
From a classification perspective, this issue aligns closely with CWE-190, which defines integer overflow or wraparound resulting in an incorrect value that can lead to various downstream vulnerabilities such as buffer overflows. Additionally, the exploitation technique falls under MITRE ATT&CK tactic T1499, specifically Endpoint Denial of Service, where adversaries aim to exhaust system resources or crash services to hinder availability. The vulnerability highlights the importance of defensive programming practices in systems software, particularly regarding how arithmetic operations on user-supplied data are handled before being used for resource allocation decisions.
Mitigation strategies focus heavily on applying the provided patch from Apple, which addresses this issue through improved input validation mechanisms within macOS Sequoia 15.8.2 and later versions. Administrators should ensure that all endpoints running affected versions of macOS are updated to the latest stable release to eliminate the vulnerable code path entirely. For environments where immediate patching is not feasible, implementing strict network segmentation can limit exposure by preventing untrusted entities from interacting with the susceptible components. Furthermore, deploying runtime application self-protection tools or intrusion detection systems that monitor for abnormal process termination patterns may help in identifying potential exploitation attempts and mitigating their impact on system availability until a permanent fix is applied.