{"id":"CVE-2026-112541","kind":"vulnerability","aliases":["CVE-2026-112541"],"related":[],"title":"macOS: directory path parsing flaw lets an app gain root privileges","description":"A parsing issue in the handling of directory paths was addressed with improved path validation. 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 gain root privileges.","summary":"A parsing flaw in how macOS handles directory paths let an app escalate to root privileges, and Apple fixed it with stricter path validation. An attacker who already runs code as a local app could take full control of the Mac.","severity":"unknown","cvss":null,"epss":null,"exploited":false,"exploited_at":null,"products":[],"ecosystems":[],"tags":["apple-devices","infrastructure","macos"],"not_affected_if":["already-patched"],"how_to_check":"- Run `sw_vers -productVersion` and compare against the fixed builds listed in the fix field.\n- unknown","fix":"- Update macOS to `27.2` (Golden Gate), `15.8.2` (Sequoia), or `26.7.2` (Tahoe), whichever matches the installed major release.","status":"open","published_at":"2026-10-26T21:17:46+00:00","first_seen_at":"2026-10-26T21:20:27+00:00","triaged_at":"2026-10-26T21:28:09+00:00","updated_at":"2026-10-26T21:28:09+00:00","category":"infrastructure","confidence":0.5,"triage":{"at":"2026-10-26T21:28:09Z","model":"claude-haiku-5-5","output":{"fix":"- Update macOS to `27.2` (Golden Gate), `15.8.2` (Sequoia), or `26.7.2` (Tahoe), whichever matches the installed major release.","reach":"local","title":"macOS: directory path parsing flaw lets an app gain root privileges","impact":"high","summary":"A parsing flaw in how macOS handles directory paths let an app escalate to root privileges, and Apple fixed it with stricter path validation. An attacker who already runs code as a local app could take full control of the Mac.","category":"infrastructure","nicknames":[],"who_cares":["macos","apple-devices"],"confidence":0.5,"needs_auth":"yes","worst_case":"local app gains root privileges on the Mac","analyst_note":"Confirm the affected version ranges and whether Apple's security notes describe exploitation or a required prior foothold; the NVD entry carries no scoring.","how_to_check":"- Run `sw_vers -productVersion` and compare against the fixed builds listed in the fix field.\n- unknown","needs_analyst":true,"not_affected_if":["already-patched"],"who_is_affected":"Any Mac running a macOS release older than the fixed builds can be affected, since the flaw sits in the operating system itself rather than in an optional feature. Machines already on the listed fixed versions or later are not affected. The sources do not say whether any non-default configuration is needed.","user_interaction":"unknown","needs_special_setup":"unknown","severity_if_unknown":"high"},"cost_usd":0.000587,"input_tokens":3288,"output_tokens":516,"severity_before":"unknown"},"analyst_status":null,"analyst_note":null,"search":"'-112541':14A,17A '-2026':13A,16A '15.8.2':90C '26.7.2':93C '27.2':87C 'abl':98C 'address':74C 'alreadi':50B 'app':8A,34B,56B,95C 'appl':19B,40B 'apple-devic':18B 'attack':48B 'code':52B 'control':60B 'could':57B 'cve':12A,15A 'devic':20B 'directori':2A,30B,71C 'escal':35B 'fix':41B,82C 'flaw':5A,25B 'full':59B 'gain':9A,100C 'gate':86C 'golden':85C 'handl':29B,69C 'improv':76C 'infrastructur':21B 'issu':66C,80C 'let':6A,32B 'local':55B 'mac':63B 'maco':1A,22B,28B,84C,88C,91C 'may':96C 'pars':4A,24B,65C 'path':3A,31B,45B,72C,77C 'privileg':11A,38B,102C 'root':10A,37B,101C 'run':51B 'sequoia':89C 'stricter':44B 'taho':92C 'take':58B 'valid':46B,78C","nicknames":[],"mitigations":[],"who_affected":"Any Mac running a macOS release older than the fixed builds can be affected, since the flaw sits in the operating system itself rather than in an optional feature. Machines already on the listed fixed versions or later are not affected. The sources do not say whether any non-default configuration is needed.","tier":"C","verified":{},"analyst_revisit_at":null,"first_public_at":"2026-10-26T21:17:46+00:00","kev":null,"cvss_vector":null,"cvss_by":null,"poc_count":0,"sources":[{"source":"nvd","external_id":"CVE-2026-112541","url":"https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-112541","severity":null,"published_at":"2026-10-26T21:17:46+00:00","modified_at":"2026-10-26T21:17:46+00:00","first_seen_at":"2026-10-26T21:20:27+00:00","fetched_at":"2026-10-26T21:20:27+00:00","note":null}],"documents":[],"notice":"Free to read at a human pace. An API with keys and an MCP server are in preparation; early access: hello@infrastack.ai"}