ClearanceKit: Ad-hoc signed binaries can spoof Apple process identities in the global allowlist
Priority HIGH 72CWE-863Published · Updated
Key facts
- Attack vector
- Local
- Privileges required
- Low
- User interaction
- None
- Attack complexity
- Low
- Attack requirements
- None
- Impact type
- Security bypass
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
- High · High · None
- Fix status
- Fixed
Attack profile from CVSS 4.0 · CNA. Fix status from CNA. Impact type from CWE-863.
Summary
ClearanceKit intercepts file-system access events on macOS and enforces per-process access policies. Prior to 5.0.5, ClearanceKit incorrectly treats a process with an empty Team ID and a non-empty Signing ID as an Apple platform binary. This bug allows a malicious software to impersonate an apple process in the global allowlist, and access all protected files. This vulnerability is fixed in 5.0.5.
Why it matters now
Exploitation Proof of concept CISA SSVC · not in CISA KEV
EPSS 0.00134 2nd percentileScored 2026-11-07
Public exploit Yes 1 exploit referenceTagged by NVD
Fix Fixed clearancekit (craigjbass): 5.0.5
SSVC decision points
CISA ADP · SSVC 2.0.3
- Exploitation
- Poc
- Automatable
- No
- Technical impact
- Total
The decision (Track, Attend, Act) also depends on your mission and well-being impact; see CISA's SSVC guide.
Affected products
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| craigjbass | clearancekit | before 5.0.5 | 5.0.5 | Patch available | CNA |
- clearancekit Vendorcraigjbass Affected before 5.0.5 Fixed in 5.0.5 Patch available CNA
CPE configurations NVD · 2
| CPE | Versions | Role | Vendor |
|---|---|---|---|
| cpe:2.3:a:craigjbass:clearancekit:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | before 5.0.5 | Vulnerable | craigjbass |
| cpe:2.3:o:apple:macos:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | not specified by NVD | Running on | Apple |
- cpe:2.3:a:craigjbass:clearancekit:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions before 5.0.5 Vulnerable ·craigjbass
- cpe:2.3:o:apple:macos:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions not specified by NVD Running on ·Apple
Remediation
- Fix · CNA clearancekit (craigjbass) Fixed in 5.0.5
Timeline
- 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2026-40599
References
More craigjbass Clearancekit vulnerabilities
- TI-2026-26012 ClearanceKit: opfilter policy bypass via non-open file operations CVSS 3.1HIGH 8.7
- TI-2026-26013 ClearanceKit: opfilter policy bypass via exchangedata and clone operations CVSS 4.0HIGH 8.4
- TI-2026-29340 Protection mechanism failure in craigjbass clearancekit CVSS 4.0HIGH 8.2
- TI-2026-26513 ClearanceKit: Managed and user-defined policy rules not enforced between opfilter start and first policy modification CVSS 4.0MEDIUM 6.3
Sources
This product uses the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD. Sources and licences