---
id: "CVE-2026-86949"
kind: "vulnerability"
aliases: ["CVE-2026-86949"]
title: "Xcode: malicious app can break out of its sandbox"
severity: "high"
cvss: 8.8
epss: null
exploited: false
status: "open"
category: "infrastructure"
products: [{"name": "Xcode", "fixed": ["27"], "affected": "< 27", "ecosystem": "vendor"}]
ecosystems: []
tags: ["apple-developers", "infrastructure", "macos", "sandbox-escape", "xcode"]
not_affected_if: ["xcode-27-or-later", "xcode-not-installed"]
published_at: "2026-10-20T01:17:28+00:00"
first_seen_at: "2026-10-23T21:57:19+00:00"
updated_at: "2026-10-24T00:17:58+00:00"
sources: [{"source": "nvd", "url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-86949", "first_seen_at": "2026-10-23T21:57:19+00:00"}, {"source": "analyst", "url": null, "first_seen_at": "2026-10-24T00:17:58+00:00"}]
---

# Xcode: malicious app can break out of its sandbox

A malicious app can break out of its macOS sandbox because some binaries shipped with Xcode did not enforce library validation. Apple fixed it in Xcode 27 (released Sept 14, 2026; advisory entry added Oct 19). Apple lists the affected platform as macOS Tahoe 26.6 and later. No exploitation reported.

_Summary, check and fix written by a model from the sources; labelled as such._

## Affected

- vendor:Xcode affected < 27 fixed 27

## How to check

Open Xcode, then choose Xcode > About Xcode, or run 'xcodebuild -version' in a terminal. Any version below 27 is affected. Apple does not name the affected binaries, so there is no file-level check.

## Fix

Update Xcode to 27 or later, from the Mac App Store or developer.apple.com.

## Timeline

- 2026-10-23T21:57:19+00:00 nvd https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-86949
- 2026-10-24T00:17:58+00:00 analyst — Apple's Xcode 27 security content (support.apple.com/en-us/149040) lists CVE-2026-86949 under the Xcode component, credited to Ilya Andr (andrd3v) of Positive Technologies. Apple does not name the affected binaries. No exploitation or public PoC found; I did not search X or Bluesky.

## Documents

- [advisory] About the security content of Xcode 27 https://support.apple.com/en-us/149040
- [describes] CVE Record: CVE-2026-86949 https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-86949

## From the sources

This issue was addressed by enforcing library validation on the affected binaries. This issue is fixed in Xcode 27. A malicious app may be able to break out of its sandbox.

---

_Free to read at a human pace. An API with keys and an MCP server are in preparation; early access: hello@infrastack.ai_