CVE-2026-65374 in macOS
Summary
by MITRE • 09/15/2026
A memory corruption issue was addressed with improved validation. This issue is fixed in macOS Golden Gate 27, macOS Sequoia 15.8, macOS Tahoe 26.7. Connecting to a malicious WebDAV server may result in code execution.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/15/2026
The vulnerability described involves a memory corruption flaw within the system components responsible for handling Web Distributed Authoring and Versioning protocols on Apple operating systems including macOS Golden Gate 27, macOS Sequoia 15.8, and macOS Tahoe 26.7. Memory corruption issues typically arise when software improperly handles data in computer memory, leading to unintended side effects such as crashes, data loss, or the execution of arbitrary code. In this specific instance, the root cause is attributed to insufficient validation mechanisms during the processing of input received from WebDAV servers. When a user connects to a maliciously configured WebDAV server, the application fails to adequately verify the structure and content of incoming network packets before allocating memory or copying data into buffers. This lack of rigorous boundary checking allows an attacker to craft specially designed requests that exceed expected buffer limits or manipulate internal state variables in ways not anticipated by the developers.
From a technical perspective, this flaw aligns with CWE-120 Buffer Copy without Checking Size of Input and potentially CWE-787 Out-of-bounds Write depending on how the corrupted memory is utilized during exploitation. The absence of proper validation enables an attacker to overwrite adjacent memory locations, which can include return addresses or function pointers within the process space. By carefully controlling these overwritten values, a remote adversary can redirect the execution flow of the vulnerable application. This capability transforms what might otherwise be a denial-of-service condition into a critical privilege escalation vector where arbitrary code executes with the privileges of the user running the affected software. The severity is heightened by the network-accessible nature of WebDAV services, which are often used for file synchronization and collaboration across enterprise environments.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant because it allows for remote code execution without requiring physical access or prior authentication in many deployment scenarios involving automatic connection features or user-initiated browsing to untrusted servers. An attacker hosting a malicious WebDAV server can entice users into connecting, either through social engineering or by exploiting legitimate workflows that interact with external storage systems. Once the exploit is triggered and code execution is achieved, the adversary gains full control over the affected system. This level of access permits the installation of malware, exfiltration of sensitive data, lateral movement within a network, and persistence mechanisms that can survive reboots or software updates. The risk is particularly acute in organizational settings where employees frequently interact with external file sharing services as part of their daily operations.
Mitigation strategies should focus on both immediate remediation and long-term architectural improvements. Users must apply the provided patches immediately to update macOS Golden Gate 27, macOS Sequoia 15.8, or macOS Tahoe 26.7 respectively, ensuring that the improved validation logic is active within the system binaries. Beyond patching, organizations should enforce strict network segmentation policies to restrict access to WebDAV services from untrusted networks and implement web proxy solutions capable of inspecting traffic for anomalous patterns indicative of exploitation attempts. Security awareness training is also critical to educate users about the risks associated with connecting to unknown or suspicious servers. From a development standpoint, adopting secure coding practices that emphasize input validation, bounds checking, and the use of memory-safe languages where feasible will help prevent similar vulnerabilities in future releases. Continuous monitoring for indicators of compromise related to WebDAV traffic can also aid in detecting active exploitation attempts before significant damage occurs. This incident underscores the importance of rigorous security testing protocols aligned with standards such as OWASP and MITRE ATT&CK techniques involving remote code execution via network services, ensuring that all external-facing functionalities undergo thorough scrutiny against memory corruption attack vectors.