Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
A person who can physically reach a locked Mac may be able to see sensitive user information without signing in. The issue does not enable remote access, data modification, or service disruption according to the supplied CVSS assessment. Apple addressed it in recent macOS updates.
Executive priority
Treat this as a prompt patching priority rather than an emergency remote-compromise event. The physical-access requirement lowers broad organizational risk, but possible high-impact disclosure warrants faster remediation for portable Macs and users handling sensitive information. Escalate overdue updates or unsupported devices through normal endpoint-risk processes.
Technical view
CVE-2026-28961 is a macOS information-disclosure flaw associated with CWE-522. It requires physical device access, has low attack complexity, and needs neither privileges nor user interaction. Confidentiality impact is rated high, while integrity and availability are unaffected. Public details identify only improved checks, leaving the affected component and disclosure path unspecified.
Likely exposure
Potential exposure is concentrated in Macs that have not reached macOS Sequoia 15.7.8, Sonoma 14.8.8, or Tahoe 26.5. The supplied affected-version data is incomplete, so exact vulnerable release ranges cannot be established from these sources alone. Risk increases for unattended devices in public, shared, travel, or high-sensitivity environments.
Exploitation context
The attack requires direct physical access to a locked device, substantially limiting scale but making lost or unattended Macs relevant. The CVE is not listed as KEV in the supplied bundle, and no cited evidence establishes active exploitation or a public exploit. The exact information exposed and required device state are not disclosed.
Researcher notes
The public description does not identify the affected component, lock-screen interaction, exposed data, vulnerable version boundaries, or prerequisite configuration. The CVSS 3.1 vector is 4.6: AV:P/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N. Testing conclusions should remain limited until Apple publishes more technical detail; avoid assuming CWE-522 proves password disclosure.
Mitigation direction
- Update supported Macs to Sequoia 15.7.8, Sonoma 14.8.8, Tahoe 26.5, or later applicable releases.
- Prioritize laptops used for privileged, executive, regulated, or otherwise sensitive work.
- Maintain physical custody controls and promptly report, lock, or recover missing devices.
- Check Apple guidance for any additional model-specific or release-specific requirements.
Validation and detection
- Inventory deployed macOS versions and identify systems below the cited fixed releases.
- Confirm updates completed successfully through endpoint-management or local system records.
- Review update exceptions, unsupported devices, and systems missing from management coverage.
- Verify high-sensitivity and frequently travelled Macs are remediated first.
Public sources used
Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.
Conservative CVE-to-ATT&CK context
These mappings and lookup hints may be relevant to the vulnerability behavior, CWE, affected product, or exposure path. Glexia-inferred context is not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, CWE, or CVE Program mapping.
ATT&CK lookup starting points
Use these exact CWE pages and searches to review the Glexia ATT&CK library from this CVE's weakness and description context.
CWE-522: Credential and account abuse lookup
Authentication and credential weaknesses can make valid-account abuse and credential telemetry useful review starting points. Open the exact CWE lookup page first, then review the ATT&CK searches from that MITRE weakness context. This is a Glexia lookup hint, not an official ATT&CK mapping.
Open ATT&CK lookupCVE-2026-28961 mapping review
Open the CVE-to-ATT&CK bridge for reviewed, inferred, or future official mappings tied to this CVE.
Open ATT&CK lookup- Severity
- Medium
- CVSS
- 4.6 (3.1)
- Known Exploited
- No
- Published
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:P/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N
CNA and ADP enrichment extracted from CVE v5
These fields come from the CVE record and ADP containers, not from Glexia's Take. They preserve time-varying source decisions such as CISA SSVC, KEV status, CVSS metrics, and provider references.
SSVC decision data
CVSS vector scores
1 official scoreWe collect every scored CVSS vector available in the official CNA and ADP containers. When more than one version is present, the table keeps the source vectors side by side instead of collapsing them into the highest score.
CVSS:3.1/AV:P/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N0.93.6CISA-ADPVulnerability scoring details
Base CVSS 3.1 score
4.6MediumVector: CVSS:3.1/AV:P/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N
Vulnerability timeline
Timeline events are normalized from CVE metadata, CNA source timelines, ADP timelines, and KEV metadata when present.
- CVE reservedCVE Program
The CVE ID was reserved by the assigning CNA.
- CVE publishedCVE Program
The CVE record was published.
- CVE updatedCVE Program
The CVE record metadata indicates this as the latest update time.
ADP provider summaries
Source materials
- CVE List V5 sourceCVE List V5
- https://support.apple.com/en-us/127115CVE reference, apple
- https://support.apple.com/en-us/128071CVE reference, apple
- https://support.apple.com/en-us/128072CVE reference, apple
Products and packages named in the record
CWE details
CWE links open Glexia weakness intelligence pages with official CWE context, developer remediation guidance, and related CVE mappings.
Insufficiently Protected Credentials
Insufficiently Protected Credentials represents a recurring weakness pattern that can create exploitable paths when design, validation, or implementation controls are missing.