Sparkle: Binary delta apply intermediate-symlink traversal in malicious .delta
Key facts
- Attack vector
- Network
- Privileges required
- None
- User interaction
- Required
- Attack complexity
- High
- Impact type
- —
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
- None · High · None
- Fix status
- Fixed
Attack profile from CVSS 3.1 · CNA. Fix status from CNA and GitHub.
Summary
Sparkle is a software update framework for macOS. Prior to version 2.9.2, `Autoupdate/SUBinaryDeltaApply.m` enforces `relativePath.pathComponents containsObject:@".."` and rejects writes whose immediate parent directory IS itself a symbolic link, but does not detect symlinks deeper in the relative path. `Autoupdate/SPUSparkleDeltaArchive.m`'s `extractItem:` will create symlinks in the destination tree from archive content (no `..` check on the symlink target), and a subsequent `Extract` item targeting `<symlink>/foo/bar` then escapes the destination tree via `fopen(path, "wb")` because the kernel resolves the intermediate symlink during the open call. This is a defense-in-depth issue: exploitation requires a maliciously-crafted `.delta` that passes EdDSA signature verification, i.e. EdDSA private-key compromise. With the AppInstaller running as root for system-domain installs, it gives the holder of a stolen signing key arbitrary file write at root level via the delta-apply path, which is a strictly broader primitive than the "drop-in replacement bundle" install they would otherwise have. Version 2.9.2 contains a patch for the issue.
Why it matters now
SSVC decision points
CISA ADP · SSVC 2.0.3
- Exploitation
- Poc
- Automatable
- No
- Technical impact
- Partial
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| sparkle-project | Sparkle | before 2.9.2 | 2.9.2 | Patch available | CNA |
| — | github.com/sparkle-project/Sparkle (SwiftURL) | before 2.9.2 | 2.9.2 | Patch available | GHSA-hg88-v3cw-3qrh |
- Sparkle Vendorsparkle-project Affected before 2.9.2 Fixed in 2.9.2 Patch available CNA
- github.com/sparkle-project/Sparkle (SwiftURL) Vendor— Affected before 2.9.2 Fixed in 2.9.2 Patch available GHSA-hg88-v3cw-3qrh
CPE configurations NVD · 1
| CPE | Versions | Role | Vendor |
|---|---|---|---|
| cpe:2.3:a:sparkle-project:sparkle:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | before 2.9.2 | Vulnerable | sparkle-project |
- cpe:2.3:a:sparkle-project:sparkle:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions before 2.9.2 Vulnerable ·sparkle-project
Remediation
- Fix · CNA Sparkle (sparkle-project) Fixed in 2.9.2
- Fix · GHSA-hg88-v3cw-3qrh github.com/sparkle-project/Sparkle (SwiftURL) Fixed in 2.9.2 Advisory →
Timeline
- 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2026-47121
- 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-hg88-v3cw-3qrh
References
More sparkle-project Sparkle vulnerabilities
- TI-2025-00423 Signing Checks Bypass CVSS 3.1HIGH 7.3
- TI-2026-34714 Missing authentication in sparkle-project Sparkle CVSS 3.1MEDIUM 4.2
Sources
- CVE-2026-47121 · CVE Program
- CVE-2026-47121 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-hg88-v3cw-3qrh · GitHub Advisory Database · CC BY 4.0
This product uses the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD. Sources and licences