CVE-2026-84569 Overview
CVE-2026-84569 is a medium-severity information disclosure vulnerability in Apple macOS. The flaw allows a local application to access sensitive user data stored on system pasteboards. Apple addressed the issue by adding sandbox restrictions to the system pasteboard subsystem. The vulnerability is fixed in macOS Golden Gate 27.
The root cause is classified as [CWE-862] Missing Authorization. An app running with limited privileges can read pasteboard contents that should be protected by the sandbox boundary. Exploitation requires local code execution but no user interaction.
Critical Impact
A malicious or compromised application on macOS can silently exfiltrate sensitive clipboard data, including copied credentials, tokens, and personal information, without triggering user prompts.
Affected Products
- Apple macOS versions prior to macOS Golden Gate 27
- Applications relying on system pasteboard privacy boundaries
- Third-party apps sharing clipboard data across sandboxed processes
Discovery Timeline
- 2026-09-14 - CVE-2026-84569 published to NVD
- 2026-09-17 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2026-84569
Vulnerability Analysis
The vulnerability resides in the macOS system pasteboard access controls. The pasteboard subsystem manages copy-and-paste data shared between applications. Prior to the fix, sandbox restrictions on system pasteboards were insufficient to prevent unauthorized reads by local apps.
An attacker who can execute code locally on the target system can leverage a low-privileged application to enumerate and read pasteboard contents. Users commonly copy passwords from password managers, authentication tokens, cryptocurrency wallet addresses, and personally identifiable information to the clipboard. This data becomes accessible to any process that abuses the missing authorization check.
The attack requires no user interaction beyond running the malicious application. The confidentiality impact is high, while integrity and availability are unaffected. Attack complexity is low.
Root Cause
The underlying weakness is [CWE-862] Missing Authorization. The pasteboard access path did not enforce sufficient sandbox checks before returning stored data to a requesting process. Apple's advisory states the fix adds additional sandbox restrictions on the system pasteboards to close this gap.
Attack Vector
Exploitation is local. An attacker must first place code on the target macOS system through phishing, a malicious installer, a supply-chain compromise, or a companion vulnerability. Once running, the attacker's process queries the system pasteboard using standard APIs and receives data that should have been withheld by the sandbox. See the Apple Support Article for vendor details.
No public proof-of-concept exploit is available at the time of publication, and the vulnerability is not listed in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog.
Detection Methods for CVE-2026-84569
Indicators of Compromise
- Unexpected processes making frequent calls to pasteboard APIs such as NSPasteboard or UIPasteboard
- Unsigned or ad-hoc signed applications requesting clipboard access outside of normal user workflows
- Background processes reading the pasteboard immediately after credential paste operations
Detection Strategies
- Monitor process telemetry for repeated pasteboard reads by non-foreground applications
- Correlate clipboard-access events with process reputation and code-signing status
- Baseline legitimate pasteboard-consuming applications and alert on deviations
Monitoring Recommendations
- Enable endpoint detection and response telemetry for macOS clipboard and pasteboard subsystems
- Review installed applications for unsigned binaries or apps requesting unusual entitlements
- Track authentication and secret-management applications that write to the pasteboard and audit which processes subsequently read it
How to Mitigate CVE-2026-84569
Immediate Actions Required
- Upgrade all affected macOS endpoints to macOS Golden Gate 27 or later
- Inventory installed third-party applications and remove untrusted or unsigned software
- Educate users to avoid copying long-lived secrets to the clipboard where possible
Patch Information
Apple has released a fix in macOS Golden Gate 27. Administrators should deploy the update through Software Update, MDM, or their standard patch management tooling. Refer to the Apple Support Article for the full advisory and version details.
Workarounds
- Configure password managers to auto-clear the clipboard within a short interval after copy
- Restrict installation of applications to signed and notarized packages via Gatekeeper policies
- Apply MDM configuration profiles that limit which applications can run in user contexts handling sensitive data
# Verify installed macOS version and apply pending updates
sw_vers -productVersion
sudo softwareupdate --install --all --restart
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
