# CVE-2019-8526: Apple macOS Use-After-Free

> A use-after-free vulnerability in macOS allows an application to gain elevated privileges, requiring a system update to mitigate.

- **Severity:** High 7.8 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Yes, since 17 Apr 2023 (CISA KEV)
- **Login needed:** Any signed-in user
- **Attackable:** Local or same network only
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 18 Dec 2019
- **Updated:** 21 Oct 2025
- **Also known as:** GHSA-p8m9-gxw7-g5pf

## What is CVE-2019-8526?

CVE-2019-8526 is a high-severity use after free vulnerability in Apple Mac Os X, published on 18 Dec 2019. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

A use after free issue was addressed with improved memory management. This issue is fixed in macOS Mojave 10.14.4. An application may be able to gain elevated privileges.

Weakness: CWE-416 (Use After Free)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2019-8526?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Apple Mac Os X.

## How do I fix CVE-2019-8526?

No fix has been published for CVE-2019-8526 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available. US federal agencies must fix it by 8 May 2023.

## Is CVE-2019-8526 being exploited?

Yes. Attackers have exploited CVE-2019-8526 in the wild since at least 17 Apr 2023.

## Other vulnerabilities in Apple Mac Os X

- [CVE-2014-7169](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2014-7169/): GNU Bourne-Again Shell (Bash) Arbitrary Code Execution (critical 9.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2014-6271](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2014-6271/): GNU Bourne-Again Shell (Bash) Arbitrary Code Execution (critical 9.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2012-1823](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2012-1823/): PHP-CGI Query String Parameter (critical 9.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2021-30713](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-30713/): Apple macOS Unspecified (high 7.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2015-1130](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2015-1130/): Apple OS X Authentication Bypass (high 7.8, exploited in the wild)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2019-8526 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2019-8526 is a high-severity use after free vulnerability in Apple Mac Os X, published on 18 Dec 2019. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: Yes. Attackers have exploited CVE-2019-8526 in the wild since at least 17 Apr 2023.

Affected product: Apple Mac Os X. No package-level version data is available, so check the vendor advisory linked from the reference page.

Task:
1. Search the dependency manifests and lockfiles (for example package.json, package-lock.json, requirements.txt, poetry.lock, uv.lock, pom.xml, build.gradle, go.mod, Cargo.lock, Gemfile.lock) and any Dockerfiles for the affected packages, including transitive dependencies.
2. If an affected version is in use, upgrade it to the fixed version for its release line with the project's package manager, so the lockfile is regenerated. Prefer the smallest upgrade that fixes it.
3. If there is no fix, or the upgrade would break the build, do not guess: explain the risk and the safest workaround instead.
4. Run the tests and summarise what changed and why.
5. If nothing in the project is affected, say so and change nothing.

Reference: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2019-8526/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2019-8526/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2019-8526
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2019-8526
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2019-8526

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2019-8526/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.