CVE-2023-42916 is a medium-severity vulnerability that affects multiple Apple products, including iOS, iPadOS, macOS, and Safari. An out-of-bounds read was addressed with improved input validation. This issue is fixed in iOS 17.1.2, iPadOS 17.1.2, macOS Sonoma 14.1.2, and Safari 17.1.2. The vulnerability arises when processing web content, which may disclose sensitive information.
Apple is aware of a report that this issue may have been exploited against versions of iOS prior to iOS 16.7.1. Organizations should prioritize patching immediately.
The CVSS score for this vulnerability is 6.5, indicating a medium severity level. The attack vector is network-based, with a low attack complexity and no privileges required. User interaction is required for successful exploitation.
Risk to organizations includes potential exposure of sensitive information due to the processing of maliciously crafted web content. The vulnerability underscores the importance of maintaining up-to-date software across affected systems.
Vulnerability Details
CVE-2023-42916 allows for an out-of-bounds read due to inadequate input validation. The vulnerability can affect multiple Apple products, including Safari and various versions of iOS and iPadOS. The issue is addressed in the latest software updates: iOS 17.1.2, iPadOS 17.1.2, macOS Sonoma 14.1.2, and Safari 17.1.2.
The vulnerability has a CVSS 3.1 score of 6.5, indicating a medium severity classification. It is categorized under CWE-125: Out-of-bounds Read.
Technical Analysis
The root cause of CVE-2023-42916 lies in the insufficient input validation mechanisms within the WebKit component. Attackers may exploit this vulnerability by sending specially crafted web content that leads to an out-of-bounds read, potentially disclosing sensitive information.
The attack vector is network-based, requiring user interaction to trigger the vulnerability. Attack complexity is low, and no privileges are needed for exploitation. The confidentiality impact is high, while integrity and availability impacts are none.
Risk & Impact Analysis
Organizations should be aware that the vulnerability can expose sensitive information when users interact with malicious web content. The potential blast radius includes all users of affected Apple products, leading to unauthorized data exposure.
Given the CVSS score of 6.5, it is crucial for organizations to address this vulnerability in their priority patch cycle. Failure to apply the necessary updates may lead to increased risk of data breaches.
Exploitation Status
Signal | Status |
|---|---|
Known Exploit | No |
Public PoC | No |
Actively Exploited | Yes |
Ransomware Use | No |
Affected Versions
All versions prior to vendor patch are affected. Specifically, versions of iOS prior to 16.7.1, and Safari versions before 17.1.2. Additional affected products include various versions of iPadOS, macOS, and Debian Linux.
Mitigation & Remediation
Organizations should apply the latest patches provided by Apple. The relevant updates are available for iOS, iPadOS, macOS, and Safari. For those unable to apply patches immediately, consider implementing network controls to restrict access to potentially malicious web content.
For further assessment, organizations can utilize our application security assessment services to identify potential weaknesses in their systems.
Detection Guidance
Monitoring for unusual log entries or behavioral anomalies in affected systems can indicate exploitation attempts. Organizations should also look for network signatures that may suggest unauthorized access to sensitive information.
AppSecure Threat Intelligence Insight
The long-term significance of CVE-2023-42916 highlights the ongoing need for robust input validation in web technologies. As more applications rely on web components, vulnerabilities like this can have widespread implications.
This vulnerability represents a trend towards increased scrutiny of third-party components in software development. Security teams should prioritize regular security assessments of their dependencies.
For organizations looking to enhance their security posture, consider our offerings for red teaming and penetration testing to identify potential vulnerabilities before they can be exploited.
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
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