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Mac Screen Sharing Security Flaw: Update macOS and Check Exposure

Apple says a network attacker may authenticate to Screen Sharing without valid credentials. Update macOS, disable Screen Sharing if unused, and check port 5900 exposure.
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Install the latest macOS security update Apple offers for your Mac. Apple’s advisories dated August 6, 2026, list fixes for CVE-2026-65400 in macOS Tahoe 26.6.1, Sequoia 15.7.9, and Sonoma 14.8.9; those version numbers identify the releases in the advisories, not necessarily the newest releases available now. If you do not need Screen Sharing, turn it off, and make sure port 5900 is not reachable from the public internet. If this is a work Mac, ask your IT team to verify its update and exposure status.

What is the Screen Sharing security flaw?

Apple says a network attacker may be able to authenticate to macOS Screen Sharing without valid credentials. The issue is tracked as CVE-2026-65400. Apple says it fixed the authentication issue with improved state management.

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Apple’s security advisories name the following releases as containing the fix. They were published August 6, 2026:

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macOS version Release named in Apple’s advisory Security advisory
Tahoe 26.6.1 Apple macOS Tahoe 26.6.1 security content
Sequoia 15.7.9 Apple macOS Sequoia 15.7.9 security content
Sonoma 14.8.9 Apple macOS Sonoma 14.8.9 security content

Use these versions as reference points when checking Apple’s advisories, but install the latest security update Apple currently offers for your Mac. The Netherlands’ National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) gives the vulnerability a CVSS v3 score of 7.1 in its 2026 security advisory.

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What the reported exploitation means

The Netherlands’ NCSC reported active exploitation in cases where Screen Sharing was enabled and port 5900 was reachable from the internet. In those observed incidents, attackers obtained root access and installed Monero-mining software, according to the NCSC’s alert published August 7, 2026, and updated August 13, 2026.

This report describes specific observed cases; it does not establish that every Mac is compromised, or that enabling Screen Sharing by itself makes a Mac internet-accessible. The exposure condition reported by the NCSC is that port 5900 could be reached from the public internet.

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How to protect your Mac

  1. Install the latest security update available for your Mac. Apple’s advisories document fixes for Tahoe, Sequoia, and Sonoma. The NCSC advises organizations to install Apple’s available updates as soon as possible. Use Software Update to check for updates, or follow Apple’s current update instructions for your macOS version.
  2. Disable Screen Sharing if you do not need it. The NCSC’s reported exploitation cases involved Screen Sharing being enabled. Apple’s cited security advisories explain the flaw and its fix but do not specify a consumer-facing settings path, so consult Apple’s current setup instructions for the exact controls on your macOS version.
  3. Check whether port 5900 is exposed to the internet. The NCSC identified public internet reachability of this port in the exploited cases. If you do not manage your network or are unsure how to check exposure safely, ask your network administrator or service provider rather than changing router or firewall rules at random.
  4. Ask IT to verify a managed Mac. If this is a work device, contact your IT department or service provider if you are unsure whether Screen Sharing is in use. Ask them to confirm the update is installed and that port 5900 is not publicly reachable.
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How to check whether the fix is installed

Open Apple menu > System Settings > General > Software Update to check for updates. Install any security update offered for your Mac and restart if prompted. Because Apple’s advisories name specific Tahoe, Sequoia, and Sonoma releases from August 2026, do not treat those numbers as a guarantee that your Mac is current; the relevant check is whether Software Update offers a newer applicable update.

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