Executive brief
A flaw in macOS allows a malicious application to gain root-level privileges by bypassing entitlement verification checks. This could allow an attacker to take complete control of a Mac system, access all user data, install malware, or disable security protections. The vulnerability affects multiple recent macOS versions and has been patched in Golden Gate 27, Sequoia 15.8, and Tahoe 26.7.
Technical details
This vulnerability is an authorization bypass in macOS entitlement verification logic that allows applications to escalate privileges to root. The root cause is insufficient validation of process entitlements, which are the sandbox rules that restrict what an app can do. An attacker would need to craft a malicious application that exploits this entitlement check flaw; no remote access or user interaction beyond running the app is required. Successful exploitation grants root privileges, enabling complete system compromise. Apple addressed the issue with additional and improved entitlement checks across multiple affected frameworks in the patched versions.
Affected products
- Apple macOS Golden Gate before 27
- Apple macOS Sequoia before 15.8
- Apple macOS Tahoe before 26.7
Timeline
- 2026-09-14: disclosed
- 2026-09-14: patched: macOS Golden Gate 27, macOS Sequoia 15.8, macOS Tahoe 26.7