CVE-2023-23527

Protected file access via insufficient integrity checks

Published May 8, 2023 · Updated Jan 29, 2025

Improper access control in AppleMobileFileIntegrity allows local users to access protected file-system areas on affected Apple operating systems. Apple has not disclosed which AppleMobileFileIntegrity check accepts unauthorized access or which protected paths become readable. Affected releases are iOS, iPadOS, and tvOS before 16.4, watchOS before 9.4, macOS Big Sur before 11.7.5, Monterey before 12.6.4, and Ventura before 13.3; exploitation requires low-privilege local access.

CVSS severity5.5
Medium
EPSS probability0.27%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Improper access control in AppleMobileFileIntegrity allows local users to access protected file-system areas on affected Apple operating systems. Apple has not disclosed which AppleMobileFileIntegrity check accepts unauthorized access or which protected paths become readable. Affected releases are iOS, iPadOS, and tvOS before 16.4, watchOS before 9.4, macOS Big Sur before 11.7.5, Monterey before 12.6.4, and Ventura before 13.3; exploitation requires low-privilege local access.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-23527
Published
May 8, 2023
Updated
Jan 29, 2025
Vendor
Apple
Product
iOS and iPadOS
Classifications
T1005
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. May 8, 2023CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Jan 29, 2025Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

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Is a vulnerable build present?

Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.

  1. Affected versionversion=unspecified <16.4

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

Apple · iOS and iPadOSversion=unspecified <16.4
Apple · tvOSversion=unspecified <16.4
Apple · macOSversion=unspecified <11.7; version=unspecified <12.6; version=unspecified <13.3
Apple · watchOSversion=unspecified <9.4

Published CVSS scores

5.5NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N
5.5CISA-ADPCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N

CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.

Attacks

What attackers are doing with it

Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.

Daily unique IPsNo honeypot observations are available for this CVE in the selected window.

No observations available

Sep 10, 2026Sep 16, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 16, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectorlocal
Privilegesauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

T1005Data from Local System

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.

Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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