macOS 10.15.6 Bug Causes Crashes With Virtualization
Users of virtualization software have reported that macOS 10.15.6 crashes repeatedly when running virtual machines.
A regression in the App Sandbox component of macOS 10.15.6 is reportedly leaking kernel memory, causing macOS to crash. The purpose of an App Sandbox is to provide protection to system resources and limit an app’s access to resources, such as memory.
VMware engineers have today diagnosed the issue and filed a “comprehensive” report with Apple, including a minimal reproduction case which should allow them to easily identify and address the issue.
It apparently also affects VMware on Big Sur, but not Parallels.
This is the problem with Apple now. Not the major updates, which were always buggy, but the minor updates. There’s never a “stable” version anymore. Not even 9 months later. “Bug fix” updates are just as likely to introduce new bugs.
Previously:
Update (2020-08-26): Mr. Macintosh:
Apple released the 5th Supplemental Update for macOS Catalina. This time around, the fix is for memory leaks with virtualization software . You can read more about the issue from Howard Oakley and a VMware engineer. The other fix has to do with the brand new 2020 5k 27-inch iMac.
See also: Howard Oakley.
The "stable" version is to stay on 10.14. There you only get security updates. If you're on 10.15, you can't install security updates without installing the whole 10.15.x+1.