Code execution via HFS image buffer overflow
Published Jul 27, 2026 · Updated Jul 27, 2026
HFS buffer overflow in macOS Sonoma before 14.8.8, Sequoia before 15.7.8, and Tahoe before 26.6 allows attackers to execute code via a crafted image. HFS image processing applies insufficient bounds checking, allowing attacker-controlled image data to overflow a buffer; Apple has not disclosed the affected function or copy operation. Exploitation is local and requires user interaction; successful exploitation executes arbitrary code in the affected process.
Summary
What happened
HFS buffer overflow in macOS Sonoma before 14.8.8, Sequoia before 15.7.8, and Tahoe before 26.6 allows attackers to execute code via a crafted image. HFS image processing applies insufficient bounds checking, allowing attacker-controlled image data to overflow a buffer; Apple has not disclosed the affected function or copy operation. Exploitation is local and requires user interaction; successful exploitation executes arbitrary code in the affected process.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2026-28981
- Published
- Jul 27, 2026
- Updated
- Jul 27, 2026
- Vendor
- Apple
- Product
- macOS
- Classifications
- CWE-120, T1203
- Attack vector
- local
- Privileges
- unauthenticated
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Jul 27, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- Jul 27, 2026Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.
Exploitability
Present is not the same as exploitable
Compare your product and version with the public record. A matching version still requires validation against your environment.
Is a vulnerable build present?
Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.
- Affected versionversion=0 <14.8.8
- Affected versionversion=0 <15.7.8
- Affected versionversion=0 <26.6
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.
Weakness, pattern, technique
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
See the directory against your own environment.
Your stack
Check the software in your environment
Book a demo to see how Hinoki identifies affected software and validates exploitability in your environment.
Book a demo