CVE-2026-43749: An app may be able to gain root privileges in Apple macOS
A parsing issue in the handling of directory paths was addressed with improved path validation. This issue is fixed in macOS Sequoia 15.7.8, macOS Sonoma 14.8.8, macOS Tahoe 26.6. An app may be able to gain root privileges.
AI Analysis
Technical Summary
CVE-2026-43749 is a privilege escalation vulnerability in Apple macOS caused by improper parsing of directory paths. This flaw could allow a local application with limited privileges to gain root-level access. Apple addressed the issue by enhancing path validation mechanisms. The fix is included in macOS Sequoia 15.7.8, macOS Sonoma 14.8.8, and macOS Tahoe 26.6. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 7.8, indicating a high severity with local attack vector, low attack complexity, and no user interaction required.
Potential Impact
An attacker with local access to the affected macOS versions could exploit this vulnerability to escalate privileges to root, potentially leading to full system compromise including confidentiality, integrity, and availability impacts.
Mitigation Recommendations
The vulnerability is fixed in macOS Sequoia 15.7.8, macOS Sonoma 14.8.8, and macOS Tahoe 26.6. Users and administrators should update to these versions or later to remediate the issue. No additional mitigation guidance is provided or required beyond applying the official updates.
CVE-2026-43749: An app may be able to gain root privileges in Apple macOS
Description
A parsing issue in the handling of directory paths was addressed with improved path validation. This issue is fixed in macOS Sequoia 15.7.8, macOS Sonoma 14.8.8, macOS Tahoe 26.6. An app may be able to gain root privileges.
CVSS v3.1
Score 7.8high
Affected software
Apple
macOS
Weaknesses
AI-Powered Analysis
Machine-generated threat intelligence
Technical Analysis
CVE-2026-43749 is a privilege escalation vulnerability in Apple macOS caused by improper parsing of directory paths. This flaw could allow a local application with limited privileges to gain root-level access. Apple addressed the issue by enhancing path validation mechanisms. The fix is included in macOS Sequoia 15.7.8, macOS Sonoma 14.8.8, and macOS Tahoe 26.6. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 7.8, indicating a high severity with local attack vector, low attack complexity, and no user interaction required.
Potential Impact
An attacker with local access to the affected macOS versions could exploit this vulnerability to escalate privileges to root, potentially leading to full system compromise including confidentiality, integrity, and availability impacts.
Mitigation Recommendations
The vulnerability is fixed in macOS Sequoia 15.7.8, macOS Sonoma 14.8.8, and macOS Tahoe 26.6. Users and administrators should update to these versions or later to remediate the issue. No additional mitigation guidance is provided or required beyond applying the official updates.
Technical Details
- Data Version
- 5.2
- Assigner Short Name
- apple
- Date Reserved
- 2026-05-01T22:46:21.647Z
- State
- PUBLISHED
Threat ID: 6a67c1b79c2644c7f8cb0ec5
Added to database: 07/27/2026, 20:38:15 UTC
Last enriched: 07/30/2026, 00:15:33 UTC
Last updated: 09/11/2026, 22:06:33 UTC
Views: 44
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