CVE-2023-27946

Arbitrary code execution via malformed file processing

Published May 8, 2023 · Updated Jan 29, 2025

Out-of-bounds read in Apple ImageIO on affected iOS, iPadOS, and macOS releases allows attackers to crash apps or execute code. ImageIO insufficiently checks the bounds of a crafted file before reading from it, allowing the parser to access memory outside the intended buffer. Processing the file requires user interaction and can terminate the handling app or execute arbitrary code in that app’s context.

CVSS severity7.8
High
EPSS probability0.25%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Out-of-bounds read in Apple ImageIO on affected iOS, iPadOS, and macOS releases allows attackers to crash apps or execute code. ImageIO insufficiently checks the bounds of a crafted file before reading from it, allowing the parser to access memory outside the intended buffer. Processing the file requires user interaction and can terminate the handling app or execute arbitrary code in that app’s context.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-27946
Published
May 8, 2023
Updated
Jan 29, 2025
Vendor
Apple
Product
iOS and iPadOS
Classifications
CWE-125, T1203
Attack vector
local
Privileges
unauthenticated

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 <15.7

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Apple · iOS and iPadOSversion=unspecified <15.7
Apple · macOSversion=unspecified <11.7; version=unspecified <12.6; version=unspecified <13.3

Published CVSS scores

7.8CISA-ADPCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
7.8NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

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.

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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
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-125Out-of-bounds Read
T1203Exploitation for Client Execution

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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