Buffer overflow in macOS kernel (before 15.7.8/14.8.8/26.6) allows local read
CVE-2026-43681 Published on July 27, 2026
A buffer overflow was addressed with improved bounds checking. This issue is fixed in macOS Sequoia 15.7.8, macOS Sonoma 14.8.8, macOS Tahoe 26.6. A local user may be able to read kernel memory.
Vulnerability Analysis
CVE-2026-43681 can be exploited with local system access, and requires small amount of user privileges. This vulnerability is considered to have a low attack complexity. The potential impact of an exploit of this vulnerability is considered to have a high impact on confidentiality, with no impact on integrity, and a high impact on availability.
Weakness Type
What is a Classic Buffer Overflow Vulnerability?
The program copies an input buffer to an output buffer without verifying that the size of the input buffer is less than the size of the output buffer, leading to a buffer overflow. A buffer overflow condition exists when a program attempts to put more data in a buffer than it can hold, or when a program attempts to put data in a memory area outside of the boundaries of a buffer. The simplest type of error, and the most common cause of buffer overflows, is the "classic" case in which the program copies the buffer without restricting how much is copied. Other variants exist, but the existence of a classic overflow strongly suggests that the programmer is not considering even the most basic of security protections.
CVE-2026-43681 has been classified to as a Classic Buffer Overflow vulnerability or weakness.
Products Associated with CVE-2026-43681
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Affected Versions
Apple macOS:- Before 14.8.8 is affected.
- Before 15.7.8 is affected.
- Before 26.6 is affected.