Skip to main content

CVE-2026-28836: An attacker with physical access may be able to silently persist an Apple Account on an erased device in Apple macOS

0
High
Published: 09/14/2026 (09/14/2026, 21:31:47 UTC)
Source: CVE Database V5
Vendor/Project: Apple
Product: macOS

Description

CVE-2026-28836 is a vulnerability in Apple macOS that allows an attacker with physical access to silently persist an Apple Account on a device that has been erased. This issue was addressed by improved correctness checks and fixed in macOS Sonoma version 14.8.8.

Affected software

Apple

macOS

Affected versions
>=0 <14.8.8

AI-Powered Analysis

Machine-generated threat intelligence

AILast updated: 09/14/2026, 22:22:10 UTC

Technical Analysis

This vulnerability involves a correctness flaw in macOS that could allow an attacker with physical access to a device to silently persist an Apple Account even after the device has been erased. The issue was resolved by Apple through improved validation checks and is fixed starting from macOS Sonoma 14.8.8.

Potential Impact

An attacker with physical access to a vulnerable macOS device could persist an Apple Account on the device without user knowledge, potentially undermining device erasure and account security. This could lead to unauthorized access or persistence of user credentials on a device presumed to be clean.

Mitigation Recommendations

Upgrade affected macOS devices to version 14.8.8 or later, where the issue has been fixed. No other mitigation is indicated by the vendor advisory.

Pro Console: star threats, build custom feeds, automate alerts via Slack, email & webhooks.Upgrade to Pro

Technical Details

Data Version
5.2
Assigner Short Name
apple
Date Reserved
2026-03-03T16:36:03.969Z
State
PUBLISHED

Threat ID: 6aa860ee55bf5e2cf59d2114

Added to database: 09/14/2026, 21:02:38 UTC

Last enriched: 09/14/2026, 22:22:10 UTC

Last updated: 09/15/2026, 01:47:16 UTC

Views: 4

Community Reviews

0 reviews

Crowdsource mitigation strategies, share intel context, and vote on the most helpful responses. Sign in to add your voice and help keep defenders ahead.

Sort by
Loading community insights…

Want to contribute mitigation steps or threat intel context? Sign in or create an account to join the community discussion.

Actions

PRO

Updates to AI analysis require Pro Console access. Upgrade inside Console → Billing.

Please log in to the Console to use AI analysis features.

Need more coverage?

Upgrade to Pro Console for AI refresh and higher limits.

For incident response and remediation, OffSeq services can help resolve threats faster.

Latest Threats

Breach by OffSeqOFFSEQFRIENDS — 25% OFF

Check if your credentials are on the dark web

Instant breach scanning across billions of leaked records. Free tier available.

Scan now
OffSeq TrainingCredly Certified

Lead Pen Test Professional

Technical5-day eLearningPECB Accredited
View courses