Kernel code execution via physical use-after-free
Published May 8, 2023 · Updated Jan 29, 2025
Kernel memory corruption in affected Apple operating systems allows local users to execute arbitrary code with kernel privileges. The mach_memory_object_memory_entry_64 path accepts an unaligned named-entry size, while VM and pmap round the final page differently and leave it freed but mapped. A malicious app, including one in the App Sandbox but not the WebContent sandbox, can turn the dangling page mapping into kernel read and write access.
Summary
What happened
Kernel memory corruption in affected Apple operating systems allows local users to execute arbitrary code with kernel privileges. The mach_memory_object_memory_entry_64 path accepts an unaligned named-entry size, while VM and pmap round the final page differently and leave it freed but mapped. A malicious app, including one in the App Sandbox but not the WebContent sandbox, can turn the dangling page mapping into kernel read and write access.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2023-23536
- Published
- May 8, 2023
- Updated
- Jan 29, 2025
- Vendor
- Apple
- Product
- iOS and iPadOS
- Classifications
- T1068
- Attack vector
- local
- Privileges
- unauthenticated
Timeline
How it unfolded
- May 8, 2023CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- 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.
- Affected versionversion=unspecified <15.7
- Affected versionversion=unspecified <16.4
What conditions does exploitation require?
What is affected?
Published CVSS scores
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.
Weakness, pattern, technique
Public exploit references
- kfd PhysPuppet exploitfunctional · demonstrated
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Technologies
Your stack
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Your stack
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