CVE-2026-43738 in macOS
Summary
by MITRE • 07/28/2026
The issue was addressed with improved memory handling. This issue is fixed in macOS Sequoia 15.7.8, macOS Sonoma 14.8.8. Processing a maliciously crafted asset catalog may result in disclosure of process memory.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/28/2026
This vulnerability represents a memory safety issue that emerged from insufficient validation of asset catalog files within Apple's operating system frameworks. The flaw stems from inadequate memory management practices when processing specially crafted asset catalog files, which are commonly used by macOS applications and system components to manage resources and metadata. The vulnerability falls under the category of memory corruption issues that can potentially lead to information disclosure, making it particularly concerning for system security.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves improper handling of memory allocation and deallocation when parsing asset catalog files. When a maliciously crafted catalog is processed, the system's memory management routines fail to properly validate input data structures, leading to potential memory leaks or buffer overflows that could expose sensitive process memory contents. This type of flaw aligns with common software security weaknesses documented in CWE-129 and CWE-787, which address insufficient input validation and out-of-bounds writes respectively. The vulnerability represents a classic case where improper resource management creates opportunities for attackers to extract confidential information from running processes.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it could potentially enable more sophisticated attacks when combined with other exploit techniques. Attackers who can craft malicious asset catalogs might leverage this flaw to extract memory contents that could include cryptographic keys, user credentials, or application data. The vulnerability affects multiple macOS versions including Sequoia 15.7.8 and Sonoma 14.8.8, indicating it was present across a significant portion of Apple's operating system ecosystem. This issue demonstrates the importance of proper input validation in resource management components as highlighted by ATT&CK technique T1068 which covers local privilege escalation through memory corruption.
The fix implemented by Apple involves enhanced memory handling mechanisms that properly validate asset catalog file structures before processing them. These improvements ensure that memory allocation and deallocation routines correctly handle malformed or malicious inputs, preventing the disclosure of process memory contents. The mitigation strategy focuses on strengthening input validation at the point of asset catalog parsing, which aligns with security best practices for preventing information disclosure vulnerabilities. Organizations should prioritize applying these updates to protect against potential exploitation attempts targeting this memory handling weakness that could compromise system integrity and confidentiality.
The resolution demonstrates Apple's approach to addressing memory safety issues through comprehensive code review and enhanced validation mechanisms. This vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of proper resource management in operating system components, where seemingly minor flaws in input validation can lead to significant security implications. The fix represents a defensive programming approach that prevents attackers from leveraging malformed asset catalogs to extract sensitive process information, thereby maintaining the confidentiality and integrity of system processes.