Protection mechanism failure in Apple macOS
Key facts
- Attack vector
- Local
- Privileges required
- Low
- User interaction
- None
- Attack complexity
- Low
- Impact type
- Security bypass
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
- Low · Low · None
- Fix status
- Fixed
Attack profile from CVSS 3.1 · CISA ADP. Fix status from CNA. Impact type from CWE-693.
Summary
A logic issue was addressed with improved state management. This issue is fixed in macOS Golden Gate 27. An app may be able to bypass Gatekeeper checks.
Why it matters now
SSVC decision points
CISA ADP · SSVC 2.0.3
- Exploitation
- None
- 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
Remediation
- Fix · CNA macOS (Apple) Fixed in 27
Fixed in the same release
Records fixed by the same vendor advisory or release, as the CNA lists them.
- Release ·
Apple macOS 27
50 records Highest priority Priority MEDIUM 2 MEDIUM, 48 LOW
Other records, highest priority first
- TI-2026-58087 Buffer overflow in Apple macOSPriority MEDIUM 49
- TI-2026-58171 Information disclosure in Apple iOS and iPadOSPriority MEDIUM 42
- TI-2026-59405 Protection mechanism failure in Apple macOSPriority LOW 39
Timeline
- 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2026-86909
- 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-phpc-q7f8-578p
References
Advisory 1
More Apple Macos vulnerabilities
- TI-2026-46583 Improper authentication in Apple macOS KEVCVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.8
- TI-2025-28008 Out-of-bounds write in Apple iOS and iPadOS KEVCVSS 3.1CRITICAL 10.0
- TI-2025-22441 Apple iOS and iPadOS: An attacker with arbitrary read and write capability may be able to… KEVCVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.8
- TI-2025-22440 Memory corruption in Apple iOS and iPadOS KEVCVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.8
- TI-2025-17951 Out-of-bounds write in Apple Safari KEVCVSS 3.1CRITICAL 10.0
- TI-2025-17847 Use after free in Apple iOS and iPadOS KEVCVSS 3.1CRITICAL 10.0
Sources
- CVE-2026-86909 · CVE Program
- CVE-2026-86909 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-phpc-q7f8-578p · 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