Executive brief
Gatekeeper is Apple's security mechanism that validates applications before allowing them to run on macOS. A logic flaw in state management could allow a malicious application to bypass these security checks, potentially enabling unauthorized software to execute on a user's system without proper vetting. This could lead to installation of malware or other harmful applications.
Technical details
CVE-2026-86909 is a logic issue in macOS Gatekeeper involving improper state management that allows an application to bypass signature validation checks. The vulnerability resides in the Gatekeeper framework, a kernel-level security component responsible for verifying code signatures and entitlements before execution. An attacker with local access to craft or manipulate application state can potentially circumvent these checks without requiring elevated privileges or user interaction beyond initial app launch. The issue is patched in macOS Golden Gate 27 with improved state management logic.
Affected products
- Apple macOS Golden Gate prior to 27
Timeline
- 2026-09-14: disclosed
- 2026-09-14: patched: Fixed in macOS Golden Gate 27