CVE-2026-113946 in macOS
Summary
by MITRE • 10/26/2026
An out-of-bounds write issue 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 corrupt kernel memory.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/26/2026
The vulnerability described involves an out-of-bounds write condition within the operating system's core components, specifically resolved through enhanced bounds checking mechanisms in macOS Golden Gate version 27.2. Out-of-bounds writes represent a critical class of software defects where a program writes data to a memory location outside the boundaries of allocated buffers or arrays. This flaw typically arises from insufficient validation of input parameters or index values before they are used as offsets for memory access operations. In the context of macOS, such errors can occur within kernel-space routines that handle system calls, device drivers, or internal subsystems managing resource allocation and data processing. The absence of rigorous boundary verification allows malicious actors to manipulate these indices, causing writes to overwrite adjacent memory structures that were not intended to be modified by the current operation.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe due to its potential for arbitrary code execution and system instability. When an application triggers this flaw, it can corrupt kernel memory, which holds critical data structures used by the operating system to manage processes, hardware resources, and security policies. Corruption of these structures often leads to unexpected system termination, manifesting as a kernel panic or immediate crash of the affected service. Beyond stability issues, the ability to write outside allocated bounds enables attackers to overwrite function pointers, return addresses, or other control data within the kernel memory space. This capability can be leveraged to hijack execution flow, allowing for privilege escalation from user-level processes to kernel-level root access. Such exploitation compromises the integrity and confidentiality of the entire system, as an attacker with kernel privileges can bypass all standard security controls, including sandboxing mechanisms and file permission restrictions.
From a classification perspective, this vulnerability aligns closely with CWE-787: Out-of-bounds Write, which defines the scenario where a write operation targets memory beyond the intended boundary of a buffer. It also relates to CWE-120: Buffer Overflow, as the root cause often involves writing more data than a fixed-size buffer can hold or accessing indices that exceed array limits. In terms of offensive security frameworks, this flaw facilitates techniques associated with MITRE ATT&CK Tactic TA0004: Privilege Escalation and specifically technique T1068: Exploitation for Privilege Escalation. Attackers would likely exploit this vulnerability during the initial access or execution phase to gain higher-level permissions, potentially leading to lateral movement within a networked environment if multiple devices are running unpatched versions of macOS.
Mitigation strategies primarily focus on applying the vendor-provided software updates that include the improved bounds checking logic. Administrators and users should ensure their systems are updated to macOS Golden Gate 27.2 or later, as this version contains the specific code patches designed to validate memory access indices before execution. Additionally, implementing defense-in-depth measures such as enabling Kernel Address Space Layout Randomization (KASLR) can make exploitation more difficult by randomizing the location of kernel modules in memory, although it does not prevent the vulnerability itself. Runtime protection mechanisms like Data Execution Prevention (DEP) and Stack Canaries should remain enabled to detect attempts to execute injected code or corrupt stack frames. Regular security audits and static analysis tools that identify potential buffer overflow conditions during development can also help prevent similar issues from being introduced into future software releases, reducing the attack surface for out-of-bounds write vulnerabilities across the ecosystem.