Pre-auth root command execution via privileged file copy
Published Jul 27, 2026 · Updated Jul 27, 2026
Access control failure in Apple macOS Sonoma before 14.8.8 and Tahoe before 26.6 allows remote attackers to execute commands as root. An oversized SRP frame makes screensharingd return a stale success status and enter the post-authentication RFB loop, where root file-copy helpers accept attacker-chosen paths and content. Screen Sharing must be enabled; no password is required, and protected reads and root-owned writes reach command execution when a planted shell startup or policy file is triggered.
Summary
What happened
Access control failure in Apple macOS Sonoma before 14.8.8 and Tahoe before 26.6 allows remote attackers to execute commands as root. An oversized SRP frame makes screensharingd return a stale success status and enter the post-authentication RFB loop, where root file-copy helpers accept attacker-chosen paths and content. Screen Sharing must be enabled; no password is required, and protected reads and root-owned writes reach command execution when a planted shell startup or policy file is triggered.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2026-43760
- Published
- Jul 27, 2026
- Updated
- Jul 27, 2026
- Vendor
- Apple
- Product
- macOS
- Classifications
- CWE-284, T1190
- Attack vector
- network
- 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.
- Aug 17, 2026Exploitation reportedMonero miner deployment through macOS Screen Sharing
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 <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.
Public exploit references
- Apple Screen Sharing pre-auth exploit.pyfunctional · validated
- navi_the_clown ARM64 proof of conceptproof of concept · demonstrated
Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.
Reported exploitation
- Monero miner deployment through macOS Screen Sharingreported exploitation
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