CVE-2023-28179

Process-memory disclosure via malformed AppleScript binary

Published Aug 14, 2023 · Updated Oct 9, 2024

Memory handling in AppleScript in Apple macOS before 13.3 allows local users to disclose process memory or terminate an app via a crafted binary. Apple has not disclosed the faulty memory operation performed while AppleScript parses the binary. A user must cause the file to be processed; the reported consequences are process-memory disclosure and application termination, not code execution.

CVSS severity7.1
High
EPSS probability0.22%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Memory handling in AppleScript in Apple macOS before 13.3 allows local users to disclose process memory or terminate an app via a crafted binary. Apple has not disclosed the faulty memory operation performed while AppleScript parses the binary. A user must cause the file to be processed; the reported consequences are process-memory disclosure and application termination, not code execution.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-28179
Published
Aug 14, 2023
Updated
Oct 9, 2024
Vendor
Apple
Product
macOS
Classifications
Unavailable
Attack vector
local
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Aug 14, 2023CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Oct 9, 2024Record 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 <13.3

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Apple · macOSversion=unspecified <13.3

Published CVSS scores

7.1NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:N/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

No sourced classifications are available.

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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