CVE-2026-84580 in macOS
Summary
by MITRE • 09/15/2026
The issue was addressed with improved checks. This issue is fixed in macOS Golden Gate 27, macOS Sequoia 15.8, macOS Tahoe 26.7. An app may be able to break out of its sandbox.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/15/2026
A privilege escalation vulnerability exists within the core operating system components of Apple's macOS ecosystem, specifically affecting versions prior to Golden Gate 27, Sequoia 15.8, and Tahoe 26.7. This flaw stems from insufficient validation checks during the execution of sandboxed applications, allowing a malicious actor with local access to bypass intended security boundaries. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-20 Improper Input Validation, as the system fails to adequately sanitize or verify inputs that dictate how an application interacts with restricted resources. By exploiting this logic error, an attacker can trick the operating system into granting elevated privileges or accessing protected memory spaces that are normally isolated from standard user-level processes.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant for both individual users and enterprise environments relying on macOS sandboxing to contain potential malware infections. When a sandbox escape occurs, the application executing with reduced permissions gains unrestricted access to files, system configurations, and other applications running under different security contexts. This effectively neutralizes one of the primary defense-in-depth mechanisms designed to limit the blast radius of compromised software. An adversary could leverage this flaw to exfiltrate sensitive data such as credentials stored in keychains, intercept keystrokes from privileged processes, or install persistent backdoors that survive system reboots and standard security scans.
From a threat intelligence perspective, this vulnerability aligns with MITRE ATT&CK technique T1055 Process Injection and potentially T1068 Privilege Escalation via Exploitation of Local Security Bypasses. Attackers typically utilize such flaws in the initial stages of an intrusion to move from low-privilege execution environments to higher-level system access, facilitating lateral movement or deeper persistence within a networked environment. The fix implemented by Apple addresses these gaps by strengthening input validation routines and reinforcing sandbox enforcement policies at the kernel level. Organizations should prioritize patching affected systems immediately upon upgrading to macOS Golden Gate 27, Sequoia 15.8, or Tahoe 26.7 to mitigate the risk of unauthorized privilege escalation. Regular security audits and monitoring for anomalous process behavior can further help detect attempts to exploit this weakness before it leads to a full system compromise.