CVE-2026-113899 in macOS
Summary
by MITRE • 10/26/2026
The issue was addressed with improved checks. 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 unexpected system termination.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/26/2026
This vulnerability represents a critical failure in the operating system's process management and resource validation logic, specifically within the core components of Apple's macOS ecosystem as addressed in updates for versions including Golden Gate 27.2, Sequoia 15.8.2, and Tahoe 26.7.2. The root cause lies in insufficient input validation or state checking mechanisms when an application interacts with system-level resources. When a maliciously crafted or poorly behaved application triggers specific sequences of operations that the operating system fails to properly validate, it leads to a corruption of internal data structures or a violation of memory safety constraints. This flaw allows local users to exploit the lack of rigorous checks, resulting in instability within the kernel or critical system daemons responsible for process scheduling and resource allocation.
The primary operational impact of this vulnerability is the potential for unexpected system termination, commonly referred to as a denial-of-service condition. By exploiting these improved check failures, an attacker can cause significant processes to crash, which may cascade into a full system reboot or freeze depending on the affected subsystems. This disruption compromises the availability and reliability of the macOS environment, preventing legitimate users from accessing their systems and potentially causing data loss if unsaved work is interrupted by sudden termination events. The severity is heightened because it requires no special privileges to trigger in many scenarios, allowing any local user with access to an application interface to destabilize the host machine.
From a classification perspective, this issue aligns closely with CWE-20 Improper Input Validation and potentially CWE-400 Resource Exhaustion if the exploitation leads to resource depletion causing crashes. In terms of adversary behavior mapping under the MITRE ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability facilitates Local Privilege Escalation or Denial of Service tactics where an attacker leverages local application execution capabilities to disrupt system availability. The attack vector is typically classified as local with low complexity, requiring only that a user can execute code on the target machine.
Mitigation strategies primarily involve ensuring all affected systems are updated to the specified patched versions which contain the corrected validation logic. Administrators should enforce strict software supply chain controls and application whitelisting policies to minimize the risk of executing untrusted or vulnerable applications. Additionally, implementing robust monitoring for unusual process termination patterns can aid in early detection of exploitation attempts before they result in widespread system instability. Regular patch management remains the most effective defense against such logic flaws that undermine core operating system stability mechanisms.