CVE-2026-113941 in macOS
Summary
by MITRE • 10/26/2026
An out-of-bounds read was addressed with improved bounds checking. This issue is fixed in macOS Golden Gate 27.2. An app may be able to cause unexpected system termination or read kernel memory.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/26/2026
The vulnerability described involves an out-of-bounds read condition within the operating system's core components, specifically affecting versions prior to macOS Golden Gate 27.2. This type of flaw typically arises when a software routine accesses data at a memory address that lies outside the intended buffer boundary. In this instance, the issue was addressed by implementing improved bounds checking mechanisms, which ensure that any access to kernel or system memory is validated against predefined limits before execution proceeds. The absence of such checks previously allowed for unauthorized read operations into regions of memory not allocated to the requesting process.
From a technical perspective, an out-of-bounds read falls under the category of CWE-125: Out-of-bounds Read in the Common Weakness Enumeration framework. This weakness occurs when software reads data past the end or before the beginning of the intended buffer. In the context of macOS and its kernel architecture, such vulnerabilities are particularly critical because they can bypass standard user-space isolation protections. When an application triggers this flaw, it may be able to retrieve sensitive information stored in adjacent memory locations that were not meant for public access. This includes potential exposure of cryptographic keys, session tokens, or other privileged data structures residing within the kernel space.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant due to its potential for both denial of service and unauthorized information disclosure. As noted in the advisory, an app may cause unexpected system termination, which constitutes a Denial of Service (DoS) condition. This occurs if the out-of-bounds read leads to memory corruption or triggers a kernel panic when invalid data is processed further down the execution chain. Furthermore, the ability to read kernel memory poses a severe security risk. An attacker could exploit this flaw to extract sensitive system state information, potentially facilitating more advanced attacks such as privilege escalation or bypassing sandbox restrictions. This aligns with ATT&CK technique T1082: System Information Discovery, where adversaries gather detailed information about the target environment to plan subsequent actions.
Mitigation strategies primarily rely on applying the provided software update that includes the fix for macOS Golden Gate 27.2 and later versions. It is imperative for system administrators and end-users to ensure their devices are patched promptly to close this security gap. Beyond patching, defense-in-depth measures should be employed. These include enabling System Integrity Protection (SIP) to restrict root access to critical system files and processes, thereby limiting the potential impact of any successful exploitation attempt. Additionally, enforcing strict application sandboxing policies can reduce the attack surface by ensuring that applications operate with minimal privileges and are confined to their designated memory spaces. Regular security audits and code reviews focusing on buffer management practices in custom or third-party software can also help prevent similar vulnerabilities from being introduced into the system environment.