Root-level protected system file deletion
Published Feb 11, 2026 · Updated Feb 11, 2026
Privilege-management flaw in Apple macOS PackageKit before 14.8.4, 15.7.4, and 26 allows local users to delete protected system files. Apple has not disclosed the affected PackageKit function or the state transition that incorrectly permits deletion, stating only that improved state management addressed the issue. Exploitation requires existing root privileges and is bounded to protected-file deletion; no confidentiality impact or privilege gain is reported.
Summary
What happened
Privilege-management flaw in Apple macOS PackageKit before 14.8.4, 15.7.4, and 26 allows local users to delete protected system files. Apple has not disclosed the affected PackageKit function or the state transition that incorrectly permits deletion, stating only that improved state management addressed the issue. Exploitation requires existing root privileges and is bounded to protected-file deletion; no confidentiality impact or privilege gain is reported.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2025-46310
- Published
- Feb 11, 2026
- Updated
- Feb 11, 2026
- Vendor
- Apple
- Product
- macOS
- Classifications
- CWE-269, T1070.004
- Attack vector
- local
- Privileges
- admin
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Feb 11, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- Feb 11, 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?
Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.
- Affected versionversion=unspecified <14.8
- Affected versionversion=unspecified <15.7
What conditions does exploitation require?
What is affected?
Published CVSS scores
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.
Public exploit references
No public exploit references are available in this record.
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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