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macOS race condition in symbolic link handling lets apps modify protected files

Priority LOW 20CWE-362Published · Updated

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

EPSS 0.00116 1st percentileScored 2026-11-07
Fix Fixed macOS (Apple): 15.8.2, 26.7.2, 27.2

SSVC decision points

Not available: CISA has not published SSVC decision points for this record.

Affected products

VendorProductAffected versionsFixed inStatusSource
ApplemacOSbefore 15.8.2; before 26.7.2; before 27.215.8.2, 26.7.2, 27.2Patch availableCNA
  • macOS VendorApple Affected before 15.8.2; before 26.7.2; before 27.2 Fixed in 15.8.2, 26.7.2, 27.2 Patch available CNA

CPE configurations NVD · 1

CPEVersionsRoleVendor
cpe:2.3:o:apple:macos:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*15.0 to before 15.8.2; 26.0 to before 26.7.2; 27.0 to before 27.2VulnerableApple
  • cpe:2.3:o:apple:macos:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 15.0 to before 15.8.2; 26.0 to before 26.7.2; 27.0 to before 27.2 Vulnerable ·Apple

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

  1. 2026-10-26 Threatist record created from CVE-2026-112421
  2. 2026-10-27 Alias added: GHSA-r5vw-6gpf-p649
  3. 2026-11-03 CVSS score added · NVD
  4. 2026-11-03 Weakness changed · NVD

References

  • 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
See all 3490 →

Sources