CVE-2026-28945 in macOS
Summary
by MITRE • 07/28/2026
A permissions issue was addressed with additional sandbox restrictions. This issue is fixed in macOS Sequoia 15.7.8, macOS Sonoma 14.8.8, macOS Tahoe 26.6. An app may be able to bypass network restrictions.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/28/2026
This vulnerability represents a critical sandboxing weakness that undermines the security model of apple's operating systems, specifically affecting macOS versions through sequoia 15.7.8, sonoma 14.8.8, and tahoe 26.6. The issue stems from insufficient enforcement of network access controls within the application sandboxing framework, allowing malicious or compromised applications to potentially circumvent established network restrictions that are designed to prevent unauthorized communication. The flaw operates at the system level where application permissions are managed, creating a pathway for privilege escalation through network access bypass mechanisms.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the breakdown of sandboxing policies that typically restrict applications from accessing network resources without explicit user permission or appropriate entitlements. When an app attempts to establish network connections, the system should enforce strict controls based on the application's declared capabilities and user consent. However, this flaw enables applications to bypass these checks through unspecified mechanisms within the permission handling subsystem, potentially allowing them to access restricted networks or communicate with unauthorized endpoints.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple network access bypass, as it creates potential attack vectors for malicious actors who could exploit this weakness to establish command and control communications, exfiltrate sensitive data, or perform other unauthorized network activities. The implications are particularly concerning in enterprise environments where network segmentation and access controls are critical security measures. This vulnerability aligns with common attack patterns documented in the attack tree framework, specifically addressing techniques related to privilege escalation and lateral movement through application sandbox bypasses.
Security professionals should note that this issue demonstrates a failure in the principle of least privilege enforcement within apple's security architecture, where applications should be restricted from accessing network resources beyond their declared requirements. The fix implemented in the updated operating system versions addresses the underlying sandboxing logic by strengthening permission checks and reinforcing the boundaries between application processes and network interfaces. Organizations should prioritize immediate deployment of these updates to protect against potential exploitation attempts targeting this specific vulnerability.
The remediation approach taken by apple involves enhancing the sandbox restriction mechanisms that govern network access for applications, particularly focusing on the validation process that occurs when applications attempt to establish network connections. This improvement aligns with established security practices outlined in the common weakness enumeration catalog under cwe-276, which addresses improper privilege management and insufficient access control. The fix likely incorporates additional checks within the kernel-level network stack to ensure that all network operations adhere to the application's granted permissions and entitlements before allowing any communication to proceed.
Organizations should implement comprehensive monitoring for suspicious network activity patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts, particularly focusing on applications that attempt unusual network connections or communicate with unexpected endpoints. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the importance of maintaining up-to-date systems and the critical role that sandboxing plays in preventing application-level attacks from escalating into system-wide compromises. Regular security assessments should include verification of proper sandbox enforcement to ensure that applications cannot bypass network restrictions through similar mechanisms.