Apple is known for its secure hardware and operating systems, with macOS, based on Unix, featuring multiple layers of defense against malware and attackers. However, no system is entirely infallible. Cybersecurity AI Claude Mythos has successfully identified the first memory vulnerability affecting Apple M5 chips in macOS 26.4.1.
Security flaws can emerge in any device or program. Despite assurances of security, achieving 100% protection is practically impossible. As systems grow more complex with tens or hundreds of thousands of lines of code, even minor human errors or issues with third-party libraries can lead to future exploits. Furthermore, the continuous evolution of attack systems and methodologies employed by cybercriminals means new entry points are constantly being discovered.
Advanced Cybersecurity AI, Claude Mythos Preview, Uncovers First Memory Vulnerability in Apple M5 macOS
Security alerts related to Apple are infrequent compared to platforms like Windows or Linux, given the generally robust security of Apple’s integrated hardware and software. However, the new AI, Claude Mythos, has managed to penetrate this defense. Even in its preview stage, Claude Mythos has made a significant discovery: the first memory vulnerability in the MIE (Memory Integrity Protection) system found in Apple M5 chips.
MIE is a security system designed to guard against memory corruption attacks and is also present in chips for iPhone 17 running iOS 26. The vulnerability discovered by the AI allows for the evasion of MIE, potentially leading to a local privilege escalation that grants administrator (root) access on macOS, giving attackers complete control.
If a Cybercriminal Tricks a Victim into Entering Administrator Credentials, They Gain Full System Control
The attack method involves executing a command on the victim’s computer to gain administrator access and thus, complete control. The specific method a cybercriminal would use to achieve this would depend on their tactics, potentially involving phishing or other deceptive techniques to trick the user into entering their credentials. While this may seem complex in practice, numerous cases have shown individuals being successfully deceived into falling for such traps.
A team of researchers from Calif confirmed this vulnerability by successfully testing the exploit code on an Apple M5 running macOS 26.4.1, demonstrating its ability to bypass MIE protection. Despite MIE’s effectiveness and minimal memory (3%) and resource consumption, it has now been shown to be susceptible to Claude Mythos, which appears to leave no stone unturned.
