CVE-2026-43698 in macOS
Summary
by MITRE • 07/28/2026
An injection issue was addressed with improved validation. 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 gain root privileges.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/28/2026
This vulnerability represents a critical injection flaw that has been resolved through enhanced input validation mechanisms across multiple macOS versions including Sequoia 15.7.8 Sonoma 14.8.8 and Tahoe 26.6. The issue stems from insufficient sanitization of user inputs or system parameters that could potentially allow malicious actors to execute arbitrary code with elevated privileges. The vulnerability classifies under CWE-74 which encompasses injection flaws where untrusted data is sent to an interpreter as part of a command or query. Attackers exploiting this weakness could leverage the injection vector to manipulate system processes or commands in ways that bypass normal access controls and authentication mechanisms.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond typical application-level exploits given its potential to grant root privileges to malicious applications. When an attacker successfully executes code with root level permissions they gain complete control over the affected system including the ability to modify system files, install persistent backdoors, access all user data, and potentially compromise network communications. This privilege escalation capability represents a severe threat to system integrity and confidentiality as it undermines the fundamental security model of macOS operating systems.
Security researchers have identified that this vulnerability aligns with techniques described in the ATT&CK framework under T1059 which covers command and scripting interpreter categories where adversaries use system commands to achieve their objectives. The fix implemented by Apple addresses the root cause through enhanced input validation that prevents malicious payloads from being interpreted as legitimate system commands or parameters. This remediation approach follows best practices established in industry security standards and represents a defensive measure against common exploitation patterns used by advanced persistent threats.
Organizations should prioritize immediate deployment of the patched macOS versions across all affected systems to mitigate potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of regular security updates and proper input validation in preventing privilege escalation attacks that could compromise entire network infrastructures. System administrators should also implement additional monitoring for suspicious process execution patterns and ensure comprehensive patch management procedures are in place to address similar vulnerabilities proactively.