CVE-2026-40599Public exploit

Protected-file read and write via spoofed Apple identity

Published Apr 21, 2026 · Updated Apr 21, 2026

Incorrect authorization in Craig J. Bass ClearanceKit before 5.0.5 allows local users to read and modify protected files via identity spoofing. The Endpoint Security policy evaluator treats an empty Team ID plus a non-empty Signing ID as an Apple platform binary instead of checking es_process_t.is_platform_binary. An unprivileged user can ad-hoc sign an executable with an allowlisted identifier such as com.apple.mds and bypass protections for matching paths.

CVSS severity8.4
High
EPSS probability0.13%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
Coverage for this vulnerability

See if you're affected

Explore vulnerability checks for your environment with Hinoki.

Book a demo

Summary

What happened

Incorrect authorization in Craig J. Bass ClearanceKit before 5.0.5 allows local users to read and modify protected files via identity spoofing. The Endpoint Security policy evaluator treats an empty Team ID plus a non-empty Signing ID as an Apple platform binary instead of checking es_process_t.is_platform_binary. An unprivileged user can ad-hoc sign an executable with an allowlisted identifier such as com.apple.mds and bypass protections for matching paths.

The record

CVE
CVE-2026-40599
Published
Apr 21, 2026
Updated
Apr 21, 2026
Vendor
Craig J. Bass
Product
ClearanceKit
Classifications
CWE-863, T1036, T1005
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Apr 21, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Apr 21, 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.

  1. Affected versionversion=< 5.0.5

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

Craig J. Bass · ClearanceKitversion=< 5.0.5

Published CVSS scores

8.4GitHub, Inc.CVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:N/PR:L/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:N/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N
7.1NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N

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.

Daily unique IPsNo honeypot observations are available for this CVE in the selected window.

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-863Incorrect Authorization
T1036Masquerading
T1005Data from Local System

Public exploit references

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