System termination via kernel double free
Published Sep 14, 2026 · Updated Sep 14, 2026
Double free in the macOS kernel before 27 allows local users to cause unexpected system termination through an application. The kernel frees the same allocation twice, but Apple has not disclosed the affected function, object lifetime, or controllable input. Exploitation requires an application to execute locally; the documented consequence is system termination, with no reported code execution or data access.
Summary
What happened
Double free in the macOS kernel before 27 allows local users to cause unexpected system termination through an application. The kernel frees the same allocation twice, but Apple has not disclosed the affected function, object lifetime, or controllable input. Exploitation requires an application to execute locally; the documented consequence is system termination, with no reported code execution or data access.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2026-84558
- Published
- Sep 14, 2026
- Updated
- Sep 14, 2026
- Vendor
- Apple
- Product
- macOS
- Classifications
- T1499.004
- Attack vector
- local
- Privileges
- Unavailable
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Sep 14, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- Sep 14, 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=0 <27
What conditions does exploitation require?
What is affected?
Published CVSS scores
No CVSS assessment is available in this record.
CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.
Attacks
What attackers are doing with it
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Weakness, pattern, technique
Public exploit references
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Technologies
Your stack
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Your stack
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