CVE-2026-26224: Intego Log Reporter Privilege Escalation

CVE-2026-26224 Overview

Intego Log Reporter, a macOS diagnostic utility bundled with Intego security products that collects system and application logs for support analysis, contains a local privilege escalation vulnerability. A root-executed diagnostic script creates and writes files in /tmp without enforcing secure directory handling, introducing a time-of-check to time-of-use (TOCTOU) race condition. A local unprivileged user can exploit a symlink-based race condition to cause arbitrary file writes to privileged system locations, resulting in privilege escalation to root.

Critical Impact

Local attackers can escalate privileges from unprivileged user to root through symlink exploitation in the /tmp directory, potentially achieving complete system compromise on affected macOS systems.

Affected Products

• Intego Log Reporter (bundled with Intego security products)
• Intego security products for macOS containing the Log Reporter utility

Discovery Timeline

• 2026-02-12 - CVE-2026-26224 published to NVD
• 2026-02-12 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2026-26224

Vulnerability Analysis

This vulnerability is classified as CWE-367: Time-of-check Time-of-use (TOCTOU) Race Condition. The Intego Log Reporter utility executes diagnostic scripts with root privileges that perform file operations in the world-writable /tmp directory. The fundamental flaw lies in the sequence of operations where the script first checks file existence or permissions and then subsequently writes to the file, creating a window of opportunity for exploitation.

The local attack vector means an attacker must have existing access to the target macOS system, but no special privileges are required beyond standard user access. Once exploited, the attacker gains high-impact access affecting confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the system through root-level privilege escalation.

Root Cause

The root cause is improper handling of temporary files in privileged contexts. The diagnostic script fails to implement secure file creation practices when operating in the /tmp directory. Specifically, it does not:

1. Use atomic file operations that prevent race conditions
2. Verify that target paths are not symbolic links before writing
3. Create files with restrictive permissions in secure, non-shared directories
4. Implement proper file locking mechanisms

The absence of these security controls creates a classic TOCTOU vulnerability where the state of the file system can change between the check and use operations.

Attack Vector

The exploitation follows a symlink race condition pattern typical of TOCTOU vulnerabilities in privileged processes:

1. An attacker monitors for the execution of the Intego Log Reporter diagnostic script
2. When the script initiates, the attacker quickly creates a symbolic link in /tmp pointing to a privileged system file (such as /etc/sudoers or a system configuration file)
3. The root-executing script follows the symlink and writes diagnostic data to the privileged location
4. The attacker can craft the timing and target to overwrite critical system files, inject malicious configurations, or establish persistent root access

The attack requires precise timing to win the race condition, but automated exploitation tools can achieve consistent success rates through rapid retry attempts. For detailed technical analysis, see the QuarksLab Blog LPE Analysis.

Detection Methods for CVE-2026-26224

Indicators of Compromise

• Unexpected symbolic links in /tmp directory pointing to privileged system locations such as /etc/, /Library/, or /System/
• Unusual file modification timestamps on critical system configuration files coinciding with Intego Log Reporter execution
• Process execution patterns showing the Log Reporter utility followed by suspicious privilege escalation activity
• Audit logs indicating file writes to protected directories from the Intego diagnostic process

Detection Strategies

• Monitor for symlink creation in /tmp by non-root users, especially links targeting system directories
• Implement file integrity monitoring (FIM) on critical macOS system files to detect unauthorized modifications
• Configure endpoint detection to alert on TOCTOU exploitation patterns involving privileged helper tools
• Use SentinelOne's behavioral AI to detect anomalous privilege escalation sequences on macOS endpoints

Monitoring Recommendations

• Enable detailed file system auditing for the /tmp directory on systems with Intego products installed
• Configure alerts for any modifications to /etc/sudoers, LaunchDaemons, or other privilege-granting configurations
• Monitor process genealogy to identify suspicious child processes spawned following Intego Log Reporter execution
• Review endpoint telemetry for repeated, rapid file operations in /tmp that may indicate race condition exploitation attempts

How to Mitigate CVE-2026-26224

Immediate Actions Required

• Contact Intego support to determine if a patched version of Log Reporter is available and apply the update immediately
• Restrict execution of the Intego Log Reporter utility until a patch is confirmed and deployed
• Audit macOS systems for signs of prior exploitation, focusing on unexpected changes to privileged files
• Implement additional monitoring on systems where Intego security products are deployed

Patch Information

Organizations should monitor Intego's official website for security updates addressing this vulnerability. Review the VulnCheck Advisory on Intego LPE for the latest remediation guidance and patch availability information. The QuarksLab PDF Resource Guide provides additional context on the affected component.

Workarounds

• Restrict access to the Intego Log Reporter utility by modifying file permissions to prevent execution by standard users
• Implement application whitelisting policies that prevent unauthorized diagnostic tool execution
• Use macOS sandbox profiles or TCC restrictions to limit the Log Reporter's file system access
• Consider temporary removal of the vulnerable component if it is not essential for security operations

# Restrict execution permissions on the Log Reporter utility (example)
sudo chmod 700 /Applications/Intego/LogReporter.app/Contents/MacOS/LogReporter
sudo chown root:wheel /Applications/Intego/LogReporter.app/Contents/MacOS/LogReporter