CVE-2023-41992
Apple Multiple Products Kernel Privilege Escalation Vulnerability
Description
CVE-2023-41992 is a local privilege escalation vulnerability affecting multiple Apple operating systems, including macOS Monterey, macOS Ventura, iOS, and iPadOS. The flaw stems from improper checking of exceptional conditions (CWE-754) within the kernel, allowing a local attacker with low-level privileges to elevate their access to gain full control over the affected device. Apple has confirmed that CVE-2023-41992 may have been actively exploited in the wild against versions of iOS prior to 16.7, and CISA has added this vulnerability to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog with a remediation deadline of October 16, 2023. With a CVSS score of 7.8 (High) and an EPSS score of 1.35%, this Apple privilege escalation vulnerability poses a significant threat to organizations running unpatched devices.
KEV Information
CVSS Score
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:HOpen in CalculatorCWEs
Affected Products
| Vendor | Product | Version |
|---|---|---|
| apple | ipados | < 16.7; 17.0 |
| apple | iphone os | < 16.7; 17.0 |
| apple | macos | >= 12.0, < 12.7; >= 13.0, < 13.6 |
Multiple CVSS Assessments
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
References
- https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT213927(Vendor Advisory)
- https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT213931(Vendor Advisory)
- https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT213932(Vendor Advisory)
- https://support.apple.com/kb/HT213927(Vendor Advisory)
- https://support.apple.com/kb/HT213932(Vendor Advisory)
- https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2023-41992(US Government Resource)
Weakness Type
CWE-754: Improper Check for Unusual or Exceptional Conditions
CWE-754 describes a weakness where software fails to properly check for unusual or exceptional conditions that are not expected during normal operation. In the context of CVE-2023-41992, this manifests as insufficient validation within Apple's kernel components, enabling a local attacker to exploit edge-case conditions and escalate privileges beyond their intended access level.
Learn more: CWE-754 — Improper Check for Unusual or Exceptional Conditions
Impact Analysis
CVE-2023-41992 carries a CVSS v3.1 score of 7.8 (High severity), reflecting a serious local privilege escalation risk across Apple's ecosystem. Attack Vector (Local): The vulnerability requires the attacker to already have local access to the target device, meaning it cannot be exploited remotely over the network. Attack Complexity (Low): Once local access is obtained, exploitation is straightforward with no special conditions needed. Privileges Required (Low): Only basic user-level privileges are required to initiate the attack, making it accessible to any authenticated local user. User Interaction (None): No action from the device owner is needed for the exploit to succeed. Confidentiality, Integrity, and Availability (all High): A successful exploit grants the attacker elevated kernel-level privileges, potentially enabling full read and write access to all data on the device, modification of system files and installed applications, and complete disruption of device availability. Given that Apple has acknowledged active exploitation against pre-iOS 16.7 versions, organizations with unpatched Apple devices face a concrete risk of compromise through this privilege escalation vulnerability.
Exploit Maturity
CISA has confirmed active exploitation of CVE-2023-41992 in the wild by adding it to the Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog, with a remediation deadline of October 16, 2023. Apple itself has acknowledged reports that this vulnerability may have been actively exploited against versions of iOS before iOS 16.7, suggesting targeted attacks leveraging this privilege escalation flaw. The EPSS score of 1.35% (79.86th percentile) indicates a moderate but non-negligible probability of exploitation activity. While no public exploit code or proof-of-concept has been identified in the available references, the confirmed in-the-wild exploitation makes immediate patching essential.
Remediation
- Apply vendor patches immediately. Update macOS Monterey to version 12.7, macOS Ventura to version 13.6, and iOS/iPadOS to version 16.7 as specified in Apple's security advisories (HT213927, HT213931, HT213932). CISA's KEV required action states: apply mitigations per vendor instructions or discontinue use of the product if mitigations are unavailable.
- Prioritize mobile device management (MDM) enforcement. Use MDM solutions to ensure all managed Apple devices are updated to the patched versions. Block enrollment or network access for devices running iOS versions prior to 16.7 or affected macOS versions.
- Restrict local access on shared systems. Since CVE-2023-41992 requires local access, limit the number of user accounts on shared macOS systems and enforce the principle of least privilege. Disable guest accounts and review local user permissions.
- Monitor for indicators of compromise. Review system logs for unusual privilege escalation events, unexpected kernel panics, or anomalous process behavior on Apple devices. Audit device integrity using endpoint detection and response (EDR) tools.
- Implement defense-in-depth measures. Enable application sandboxing, enforce code signing policies, and apply proper input validation across custom applications to reduce the impact of similar exceptional-condition vulnerabilities in the future.
Technical Details
CVE-2023-41992 is rooted in CWE-754 (Improper Check for Unusual or Exceptional Conditions), where the Apple kernel fails to adequately validate certain edge-case inputs or state transitions during privilege management operations. The vulnerability is exploitable locally (AV:L) with low attack complexity (AC:L), meaning an attacker who has obtained basic user-level access (PR:L) to a macOS, iOS, or iPadOS device can trigger the flaw without any user interaction (UI:N). The scope remains unchanged (S:U), indicating that the exploit affects only the vulnerable kernel component itself, but since the kernel governs all system resources, a successful privilege escalation grants the attacker full confidentiality, integrity, and availability impact (C:H/I:H/A:H) over the entire device. Apple addressed the issue with improved checks in macOS Monterey 12.7, macOS Ventura 13.6, and iOS/iPadOS 16.7, suggesting that the fix involved adding proper validation logic to the code paths that previously allowed the exceptional condition to be exploited for arbitrary privilege elevation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is CVE-2023-41992 being actively exploited?
Yes. Apple has acknowledged that CVE-2023-41992 may have been actively exploited against versions of iOS before iOS 16.7. CISA has added this vulnerability to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog with a remediation deadline of October 16, 2023. The ransomware association is currently listed as unknown.
What products are affected by CVE-2023-41992?
CVE-2023-41992 affects Apple iPadOS, Apple iPhone OS (iOS), and Apple macOS. Specifically, the vulnerability is fixed in macOS Monterey 12.7, macOS Ventura 13.6, and iOS/iPadOS 16.7, meaning all prior versions of these operating systems are potentially vulnerable.
How do I fix CVE-2023-41992?
Update your Apple devices to macOS Monterey 12.7 or later, macOS Ventura 13.6 or later, or iOS/iPadOS 16.7 or later. Refer to Apple's security advisories HT213927, HT213931, and HT213932 for detailed patch instructions. Use MDM to enforce updates across managed device fleets.
How severe is CVE-2023-41992?
CVE-2023-41992 is rated High severity with a CVSS v3.1 score of 7.8 out of 10. The EPSS score of 1.35% places it in the 79.86th percentile, indicating a moderate exploitation probability. The confirmed active exploitation by Apple and its inclusion in CISA's KEV catalog underscore the urgency of patching.
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