CVE-2026-113900 in macOS
Summary
by MITRE • 10/26/2026
A race condition was addressed with improved state handling. 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 gain root privileges.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/27/2026
The vulnerability described involves a race condition within the operating system's privilege escalation mechanisms, specifically affecting components responsible for managing user states and access controls on Apple platforms including macOS Golden Gate 27.2, macOS Sequoia 15.8.2, and macOS Tahoe 26.7.2. A race condition occurs when two or more processes attempt to read or write shared data concurrently, leading to unpredictable outcomes based on the timing of their execution. In this context, an attacker could exploit a window of opportunity where system state is being updated but not yet fully secured, allowing them to manipulate the sequence of operations to bypass security checks that are designed to restrict administrative access.
This flaw fundamentally undermines the integrity of the operating system's privilege model by enabling unauthorized elevation from standard user privileges to root or superuser status. Root privileges provide unrestricted access to all files and processes on a macOS device, effectively granting an attacker complete control over the compromised system. Once such elevated permissions are obtained, malicious actors can install persistent backdoors, exfiltrate sensitive data including cryptographic keys and personal information, modify system configurations to maintain persistence, or disable security features like Gatekeeper and FileVault. The impact is severe as it compromises confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the affected systems without requiring physical access if remote exploitation vectors exist.
From a classification perspective, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-362, which defines concurrent execution using shared resources with improper synchronization leading to race conditions. Furthermore, in terms of attack tactics, this behavior corresponds to MITRE ATT&CK technique T1068, specifically the sub-technique for exploitation of binary vulnerabilities or privilege escalation through race conditions. Attackers typically leverage such flaws during post-exploitation phases where initial access has been gained via phishing, drive-by downloads, or other entry points, aiming to escalate privileges to facilitate deeper system compromise and lateral movement within a network environment.
Mitigation strategies primarily involve the immediate application of the provided software updates for macOS Golden Gate 27.2, Sequoia 15.8.2, and Tahoe 26.7.2, which contain code changes that improve state handling to eliminate the timing window exploited by attackers. System administrators should ensure automated patching policies are in place to minimize exposure windows across enterprise deployments. Additionally, organizations can implement defense-in-depth measures such as enforcing strict application whitelisting via Gatekeeper, utilizing endpoint detection and response solutions capable of identifying anomalous privilege escalation attempts, and restricting root access through least-privilege principles where possible. Regular security audits focusing on race condition vulnerabilities in custom or third-party applications integrated with system services are also recommended to prevent similar issues from arising in the future.