CVE-2026-43765

Protected filesystem modification via symlink following

Published Jul 27, 2026 · Updated Jul 27, 2026

Improper link resolution in Apple macOS PackageKit allows local users to modify protected files via crafted symlinks. PackageKit follows attacker-controlled symbolic links during a file operation, redirecting writes into protected filesystem locations. Affected releases are Sonoma before 14.8.8, Sequoia before 15.7.8, and Tahoe before 26.6; exploitation requires local app execution and user interaction.

CVSS severity5.5
Medium
EPSS probability0.20%
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

Improper link resolution in Apple macOS PackageKit allows local users to modify protected files via crafted symlinks. PackageKit follows attacker-controlled symbolic links during a file operation, redirecting writes into protected filesystem locations. Affected releases are Sonoma before 14.8.8, Sequoia before 15.7.8, and Tahoe before 26.6; exploitation requires local app execution and user interaction.

The record

CVE
CVE-2026-43765
Published
Jul 27, 2026
Updated
Jul 27, 2026
Vendor
Apple
Product
macOS
Classifications
CWE-59, T1565.001
Attack vector
local
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Jul 27, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. 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.

  1. Affected versionversion=0 <14.8.8
  2. Affected versionversion=0 <15.7.8
  3. Affected versionversion=0 <26.6

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Apple · macOSversion=0 <14.8.8; version=0 <15.7.8; version=0 <26.6

Published CVSS scores

5.5CISA-ADPCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:N/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 10, 2026Sep 16, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 16, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectorlocal
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-59Improper Link Resolution Before File Access ('Link Following')
T1565.001Stored Data Manipulation

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