TCC bypass via unhardened dynamic-library injection
Published May 19, 2023 · Updated Jul 9, 2026
Incorrect authorization in Telegram 9.3.1 and 9.4.0 for macOS allows local users to read protected files and record audio or video. Telegram's executable lacks the Hardened Runtime flag, so DYLD_INSERT_LIBRARIES loads attacker-supplied code into a process carrying Telegram's existing privacy permissions. Exploitation requires local code execution and a LaunchAgent to avoid Terminal's sandbox; successful injection accesses protected resources without a new consent prompt.
Summary
What happened
Incorrect authorization in Telegram 9.3.1 and 9.4.0 for macOS allows local users to read protected files and record audio or video. Telegram's executable lacks the Hardened Runtime flag, so DYLD_INSERT_LIBRARIES loads attacker-supplied code into a process carrying Telegram's existing privacy permissions. Exploitation requires local code execution and a LaunchAgent to avoid Terminal's sandbox; successful injection accesses protected resources without a new consent prompt.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2023-26818
- Published
- May 19, 2023
- Updated
- Jul 9, 2026
- Vendor
- Unknown vendor
- Product
- Unknown product
- Classifications
- CWE-863, T1574.006
- Attack vector
- local
- Privileges
- authenticated
Timeline
How it unfolded
- May 19, 2023CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- Jul 9, 2026Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.
Exploitability
Present is not the same as exploitable
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Is a vulnerable build present?
What conditions does exploitation require?
What is affected?
Affected products and versions are unavailable in this record.
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.
Public exploit references
- Bypassing TCC with Telegram proof of conceptproof of concept · demonstrated
- CVE-2023-26818 macOS TCC bypass exploitfunctional · unverified
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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