CVE-2022-26696Public exploit

Sandbox escape via inherited Terminal environment

Published Sep 20, 2022 · Updated May 28, 2025

Sandbox escape in Terminal on Apple macOS before 12.4 allows local users to execute code outside an application sandbox via LaunchServices. Terminal trusts an attacker-set __OSINSTALL_ENVIRONMENT value, skips clearing PATH, and evaluates command substitution when LaunchServices opens it. Low-privileged code execution is required, and resulting code runs in Terminal's current-user context with any permissions already granted to it.

CVSS severity8.8
High
EPSS probability0.34%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Sandbox escape in Terminal on Apple macOS before 12.4 allows local users to execute code outside an application sandbox via LaunchServices. Terminal trusts an attacker-set __OSINSTALL_ENVIRONMENT value, skips clearing PATH, and evaluates command substitution when LaunchServices opens it. Low-privileged code execution is required, and resulting code runs in Terminal's current-user context with any permissions already granted to it.

The record

CVE
CVE-2022-26696
Published
Sep 20, 2022
Updated
May 28, 2025
Vendor
Apple
Product
macOS
Classifications
CWE-693
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Sep 20, 2022CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. May 28, 2025Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

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Is a vulnerable build present?

Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.

  1. Affected versionversion=unspecified <12.4

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

Apple · macOSversion=unspecified <12.4

Published CVSS scores

7.8Zero Day InitiativeCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
8.8NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H
8.8CISA-ADPCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H

CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.

Attacks

What attackers are doing with it

Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.

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No observations available

Sep 9, 2026Sep 15, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 15, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectorlocal
Privilegesauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitPublished

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-693Protection Mechanism Failure

Public exploit references

Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.

Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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