Exploited vulnerability · CISA KEV

Is CVE-2019-8526 exploited? Yes: in CISA KEV since 17 Apr 2023

Gociux · Apple macOS · data: CISA KEV, CVE record, FIRST EPSS

Yes. CVE-2019-8526, Apple macOS Use-After-Free Vulnerability, is being exploited in the wild. CISA added it to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog on 17 Apr 2023, 1216 days after it was published. It affects Apple macOS. If you run it, CISA's required action is: Apply updates per vendor instructions.

exploitedYesCISA KEV · 17 Apr 2023

ransomwareNot knownno confirmed use

EPSSbelow top 10%lower predicted activity right now (it is still confirmed exploited)

severity7.8CVSS 3.1 · high

US federal due8 May 2023BOD 22-01 deadline

What it is

Apple macOS contains a use-after-free vulnerability that could allow for privilege escalation.

Vendor	Apple (96 exploited CVEs in KEV)
Product	macOS
Vulnerability	Apple macOS Use-After-Free Vulnerability
Weakness	CWE-416
Published	18 Dec 2019
Added to KEV	17 Apr 2023
Reported by (CNA)	apple

What to do

Check whether you run it. Look for macOS in your asset inventory, including appliances and cloud images. Stack check lists every exploited Apple CVE at once.
Apply the fix. Apply updates per vendor instructions.
If you can't patch today, take the affected service off the internet or restrict who can reach it, and check its logs for signs of compromise since 18 Dec 2019.
Get told next time. Email alerts when CISA adds a CVE for Apple.

Other exploited CVEs in macOS

CVE-2026-65400: Apple macOS Improper Authentication Vulnerability (18 Aug 2026)
CVE-2022-22675: Apple macOS Out-of-Bounds Write Vulnerability (4 Apr 2022)
CVE-2022-22674: Apple macOS Out-of-Bounds Read Vulnerability (4 Apr 2022)
CVE-2021-30713: Apple macOS Unspecified Vulnerability (3 Nov 2021)
CVE-2021-30657: Apple macOS Unspecified Vulnerability (3 Nov 2021)

References

Questions

Is CVE-2019-8526 being exploited?

Yes. CISA added CVE-2019-8526 to the Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog on 17 Apr 2023, which means there is reliable evidence of exploitation in the wild.

Is CVE-2019-8526 used in ransomware attacks?

CISA does not list known ransomware use for it. That can change, and exploitation alone is reason to fix it first.

How do I fix CVE-2019-8526?

Apply updates per vendor instructions. Check Apple's advisory for the fixed versions, and if you can't patch quickly, restrict access to the affected macOS and watch it for signs of compromise.

Sources: CISA KEV (exploitation, ransomware use, required action, due date), the CVE record (publication date, CVSS, CNA), NVD and FIRST EPSS (live score). More: all KEV additions in April 2023 · Apple scorecard · act-now radar.

Running Apple in a regulated environment?

We check exposure across your estate, patch or mitigate with your team, and set up detection for what attackers do after exploiting it.

Get in touch →