CVE-2026-65382 in macOS
Summary
by MITRE • 09/15/2026
A parsing issue in the handling of directory paths was addressed with improved path validation. This issue is fixed in macOS Golden Gate 27, macOS Sequoia 15.8, macOS Tahoe 26.7. An app may be able to access sensitive user data.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/15/2026
The vulnerability described involves a critical flaw within the operating system's file path parsing logic, specifically concerning how directory paths are validated and processed by applications running on macOS platforms including versions Golden Gate 27, Sequoia 15.8, and Tahoe 26.7. This issue stems from insufficient validation of input strings that represent filesystem locations, allowing for potential manipulation of the intended access path through techniques such as path traversal or symbolic link exploitation. When an application requests access to a file or directory, the underlying system component responsible for resolving these paths fails to adequately sanitize special characters or relative navigation sequences like dot-dot-slash patterns before granting access permissions. This lack of rigorous validation creates a discrepancy between the intended target location and the actual resource accessed by the operating system's kernel-level security mechanisms.
From a technical perspective, this flaw aligns with Common Weakness Enumeration category CWE-22 Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory. The core issue is that the application or framework does not strictly enforce boundaries around allowed directories, enabling an attacker who can influence path inputs to escape the intended sandboxed environment. By crafting maliciously formatted directory paths, it becomes possible for unauthorized processes to traverse upwards through the filesystem hierarchy and access files located outside of their designated scope. This behavior undermines the fundamental security model of macOS which relies on strict isolation between user data and application sandboxes to prevent cross-application data leakage or privilege escalation attacks.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant, as it directly compromises the confidentiality of sensitive user information stored within protected directories. An attacker leveraging this flaw could read configuration files containing authentication tokens, personal documents, cryptographic keys, or other private data that should remain inaccessible to unprivileged applications. This exposure not only violates user privacy expectations but also potentially facilitates further attacks by providing attackers with valuable intelligence about system configurations and user habits. In enterprise environments where sensitive corporate data is stored locally on macOS devices, this vulnerability could lead to substantial regulatory compliance failures under standards such as GDPR or HIPAA due to unauthorized access to protected health information or personally identifiable information.
Mitigation strategies primarily involve applying the provided software updates that address these path validation deficiencies in the specified macOS versions. Administrators should ensure all endpoints are patched to the latest stable release where this issue is resolved, thereby restoring proper boundary enforcement for file system operations. Additionally, developers of applications targeting these platforms must review their codebase for any direct usage of low-level filesystem APIs without adequate input sanitization and implement strict allow-listing practices for directory access rather than relying solely on default path resolution behaviors. Security monitoring tools should also be configured to detect anomalous patterns of file access that indicate potential exploitation attempts, such as rapid sequential reads from disparate high-value directories or unusual traversal sequences in system logs.
This vulnerability is further contextualized within the MITRE ATT&CK framework under techniques related to Collection and Data from Local System, specifically reflecting behaviors associated with unauthorized data exfiltration through local storage manipulation. The failure to properly validate directory paths represents a classic example of how improper input handling can lead to severe security breaches in operating system components. By addressing this issue at the source through improved path validation logic, Apple reinforces the integrity of its sandboxing architecture and ensures that applications operate within their designated permissions without inadvertently exposing broader filesystem contents to potential exploitation by malicious actors or compromised software.