CVE-2026-65376 in macOS
Summary
by MITRE • 09/15/2026
An out-of-bounds read was addressed with improved bounds checking. This issue is fixed in macOS Golden Gate 27, macOS Sequoia 15.8, macOS Tahoe 26.7. An app may be able to cause unexpected system termination.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/15/2026
The vulnerability described involves an out-of-bounds read condition within the operating system's core components, specifically affecting versions of macOS prior to Golden Gate 27, Sequoia 15.8, and Tahoe 26.7. An out-of-bounds read occurs when a software application attempts to access memory locations that lie outside the intended buffer or data structure boundaries. In this specific instance, the flaw stems from insufficient validation of input parameters or array indices before accessing memory resources. When an application triggers this condition by providing malformed or excessively large inputs, the system may attempt to retrieve data from unallocated or protected memory regions. This type of error is a classic example of improper access control and boundary verification failures, which are frequently categorized under CWE-125 in the Common Weakness Enumeration framework as out-of-bounds read.
The operational impact of this vulnerability centers on the stability and availability of the macOS environment rather than direct code execution or privilege escalation. Because the flaw results in an attempt to access invalid memory addresses, the operating system's kernel or protected subsystems typically detect the illegal operation and respond by terminating the offending process to prevent further corruption or security compromise. Consequently, a local attacker with the ability to execute arbitrary applications on the target machine can induce unexpected system termination of specific processes or potentially cause broader instability if the affected component is critical to system operations. This aligns with the ATT&CK technique T1499, Endpoint Denial of Service, where an adversary leverages software vulnerabilities to disrupt service availability by causing crashes or hangs in targeted systems.
Mitigation for this vulnerability primarily relies on applying the official security updates provided by Apple. Administrators and users should ensure that their devices are updated to macOS Golden Gate 27, Sequoia 15.8, or Tahoe 26.7 or later versions where improved bounds checking mechanisms have been implemented. These patches introduce stricter validation logic that verifies memory access requests against allocated limits before execution, thereby preventing the out-of-bounds condition from occurring. In environments where immediate patching is not feasible due to compatibility concerns, implementing application whitelisting policies can help restrict which applications are permitted to run with elevated privileges or access sensitive system resources, reducing the attack surface available to potential exploiters. Additionally, monitoring for unusual process termination events in system logs can aid in detecting attempted exploitation activities before they cause significant disruption.