macOS race condition in symbolic link handling lets apps modify protected files
Key facts
- Attack vector
- Local
- Privileges required
- Low
- User interaction
- None
- Attack complexity
- High
- Impact type
- —
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
- None · High · None
- Fix status
- Fixed
Attack profile from CVSS 3.1 · NVD. Fix status from CNA.
Summary
A race condition in macOS lets a local app modify protected parts of the file system. The flaw is tracked as CWE-362, concurrent execution using a shared resource with improper synchronization. An app with low privileges and local access can exploit it, with high impact on integrity.
Written with Claude Haiku 5.5 from the sources below · 2026-11-03
Description from the CNA
A race condition was addressed with improved handling of symbolic links. This issue is fixed in macOS Golden Gate 27.2, macOS Sequoia 15.8.2, macOS Tahoe 26.7.2. An app may be able to modify protected parts of the file system.
Why it matters now
SSVC decision points
Not available: CISA has not published SSVC decision points for this record.
Affected products
Remediation
Apple fixes this in macOS Golden Gate 27.2, macOS Sequoia 15.8.2 and macOS Tahoe 26.7.2. macOS versions before those fixes are affected.
Written with Claude Haiku 5.5 from the sources below · 2026-11-03
- Fix · CNA macOS (Apple) Fixed in 15.8.2, 26.7.2, 27.2
Fixed in the same release
Records fixed by the same vendor advisory or release, as the CNA lists them.
- Release ·
Apple macOS 15.8.2, 26.7.2, 27.2
166 records Highest priority Priority MEDIUM 29 MEDIUM, 137 LOW
Other records, highest priority first
- TI-2026-80879 Apple iOS, macOS and visionOS flaw allows WebContent sandbox escapePriority MEDIUM 51
- TI-2026-80811 Out-of-bounds write in Apple macOS allows system terminationPriority MEDIUM 50
- TI-2026-80633 Buffer overflow in Apple macOS allows remote app crashesPriority MEDIUM 50
Timeline
- 2026-10-26 Threatist record created from CVE-2026-112421
- 2026-10-27 Alias added: GHSA-r5vw-6gpf-p649
- 2026-11-03 CVSS score added · NVD
- 2026-11-03 Weakness changed · NVD
References
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-2026-112421 · CVE Program
- CVE-2026-112421 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-r5vw-6gpf-p649 · GitHub Advisory Database · CC BY 4.0
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