Apple macOS: Local privilege escalation via file handling
Summary
A flaw in file handling in Apple macOS allows a malicious application to execute arbitrary code with system privileges. An attacker must first get code running on the Mac, and the flaw is rated as requiring low privileges. CISA SSVC lists no known exploitation, and Apple has fixed the issue in its October 26, 2026 updates.
Affected
- macOS Golden Gate before 27.2
- macOS Sequoia before 15.8.2
- macOS Tahoe before 26.7.2
- Exact affected range not confirmed in Apple's advisory excerpts; treat older builds as vulnerable.
Fixed in
- macOS Golden Gate 27.2
- macOS Sequoia 15.8.2
- macOS Tahoe 26.7.2
Workaround
Unknown.
- No vendor-documented workaround found. Apply the update.
Exploitation
- Not known to be exploited in the wild (CISA SSVC exploitation: none).
- Not listed in CISA KEV at the time of research.
- No public proof of concept found.
Our recommendation
- Update all managed Macs to Golden Gate 27.2, Sequoia 15.8.2 or Tahoe 26.7.2, matching each machine's major version.
- Check inventory for Macs still on older builds.
- Limit unapproved app installs and keep endpoint protection running.
- Monitor NVD, CISA KEV and Apple's security pages for updates.
Public exploits
PoC-in-GitHub, Metasploit and Exploit-DB list nothing for this CVE.
Research sources
- Apple Security Content of macOS Golden Gate 27.2 support.apple.com
- Apple Security Content of macOS Tahoe 26.7.2 support.apple.com
- Apple Security Content of macOS Sequoia 15.8.2 support.apple.com
- OpenCVE CVE-2026-112484 app.opencve.io
- VulDB 426649 vuldb.com
- MacObserver: macOS Sequoia 15.8.2 and Tahoe 26.7.2 release www.macobserver.com
- Strix CVE-2026-112484 www.strix.ai
Researched and written up in English and German by an AI (Claude by Anthropic) based on NVD, CISA, EPSS and the sources listed. The vendor information is authoritative. Researched on 1 Nov 2026, 22:16.
Original description (NVD)
This issue was addressed with improved file handling. This issue is fixed in macOS Golden Gate 27.2, macOS Sequoia 15.8.2, macOS Tahoe 26.7.2. A malicious application may be able to execute arbitrary code with system privileges.
Sources
The tracker combines official, freely usable data sources – updated continuously:
- NVD (NIST) – CVEs, rating (CVSS), affected products
- CISA KEV – vulnerabilities confirmed by CISA as actively exploited
- CISA Vulnrichment – CISA assessment (SSVC) in the official CVE record
- FIRST EPSS – probability of exploitation
- Microsoft MSRC – Patch Tuesday: vulnerabilities, severity, updates
- PoC-in-GitHub – public proof-of-concept repositories
- Metasploit (Rapid7) – modules of the Metasploit Framework
- Exploit-DB (OffSec) – archive of public exploits (links only)
- Patch days: official vendor pages (linked per vendor) (Vendor patch days)
This product uses data from the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD. EPSS data © FIRST.org.
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