CVE-2026-64698

9.8

Apple · macOS

A memory handling vulnerability in Apple macOS allows an application to cause unexpected system termination or read sensitive kernel memory.

Executive summary

A critical memory handling vulnerability in Apple macOS permits unauthenticated remote attackers to cause system crashes or gain unauthorized access to kernel memory.

Vulnerability

This vulnerability involves improper memory handling within the kernel, which can be triggered by an unauthenticated attacker to induce a system crash or disclose sensitive kernel memory contents.

Business impact

The potential for unauthorized kernel memory access presents a severe risk to data confidentiality and system integrity. Given the CVSS score of 9.8, this flaw could allow an attacker to bypass security boundaries, potentially leading to full system compromise, data exfiltration, or denial of service that disrupts critical business operations.

Remediation

Immediate Action: Update all affected macOS installations to versions 15.7.8, 14.8.8, or 26.6 immediately to apply the required memory handling patches.

Proactive Monitoring: Monitor system logs for unusual kernel panic events or repeated process crashes that may indicate exploitation attempts.

Compensating Controls: Ensure that endpoint protection software is active and restricted system access policies are in place to limit the execution of untrusted or unauthorized applications.

Exploitation status

Public Exploit Available: No

Analyst recommendation

Due to the critical severity of this vulnerability and the potential for total system impact, organizations must prioritize the deployment of the provided security updates. Patching should be conducted across all managed macOS endpoints immediately to mitigate the risk of kernel-level exploitation.

More Apple CVEs

Sources