Code execution via malformed MIDI file parsing
Published May 8, 2023 · Updated Jan 29, 2025
Out-of-bounds read in Apple GarageBand before 10.4.8 allows attackers to crash the app or execute code by opening a crafted MIDI file. GarageBand's MIDI parser reads beyond an intended buffer because it insufficiently validates malicious file input; Apple has not disclosed the specific routine or field involved. The attack requires a user to open or otherwise parse the file in GarageBand, and successful exploitation runs code in the application's user context.
Summary
What happened
Out-of-bounds read in Apple GarageBand before 10.4.8 allows attackers to crash the app or execute code by opening a crafted MIDI file. GarageBand's MIDI parser reads beyond an intended buffer because it insufficiently validates malicious file input; Apple has not disclosed the specific routine or field involved. The attack requires a user to open or otherwise parse the file in GarageBand, and successful exploitation runs code in the application's user context.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2023-27938
- Published
- May 8, 2023
- Updated
- Jan 29, 2025
- Vendor
- Apple
- Product
- macOS
- Classifications
- CWE-125, T1204.002
- 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
Compare your product and version with the public record. A matching version still requires validation against your environment.
Is a vulnerable build present?
Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.
- Affected versionversion=unspecified <10.4
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.
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
See the directory against your own environment.
Your stack
Check the software in your environment
Book a demo to see how Hinoki identifies affected software and validates exploitability in your environment.
Book a demo