Root privilege escalation via deficient file handling
Published Sep 6, 2023 · Updated Feb 13, 2025
Privilege escalation in Apple MallocStackLogging before macOS 13.4, iOS and iPadOS 16.5, tvOS 16.5, and watchOS 9.5 allows local users to gain root. Apple identifies deficient file handling in MallocStackLogging but has not disclosed the affected file path, operation, or validation failure. Execution of an attacker-controlled local app is required; successful exploitation grants root-level control of the affected device.
Summary
What happened
Privilege escalation in Apple MallocStackLogging before macOS 13.4, iOS and iPadOS 16.5, tvOS 16.5, and watchOS 9.5 allows local users to gain root. Apple identifies deficient file handling in MallocStackLogging but has not disclosed the affected file path, operation, or validation failure. Execution of an attacker-controlled local app is required; successful exploitation grants root-level control of the affected device.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2023-32428
- Published
- Sep 6, 2023
- Updated
- Feb 13, 2025
- Vendor
- Apple
- Product
- iOS and iPadOS
- Classifications
- T1068
- Attack vector
- local
- Privileges
- unauthenticated
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Sep 6, 2023CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- Feb 13, 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 <16.5
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
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