CVE-2023-38259

Sensitive data access via PackageKit logic flaw

Published Jul 27, 2023 · Updated Oct 23, 2024

Information disclosure in PackageKit on macOS Ventura before 13.5 allows local users to access user-sensitive data through a local app. Apple discloses only that PackageKit contains a logic issue addressed with improved restrictions; the specific locus and incorrect operation are not public. Exploitation requires a locally running app and is limited to reading user-sensitive data, with no disclosed ability to modify data or interrupt service.

CVSS severity5.5
Medium
EPSS probability0.24%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Information disclosure in PackageKit on macOS Ventura before 13.5 allows local users to access user-sensitive data through a local app. Apple discloses only that PackageKit contains a logic issue addressed with improved restrictions; the specific locus and incorrect operation are not public. Exploitation requires a locally running app and is limited to reading user-sensitive data, with no disclosed ability to modify data or interrupt service.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-38259
Published
Jul 27, 2023
Updated
Oct 23, 2024
Vendor
Apple
Product
macOS
Classifications
T1005
Attack vector
local
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Jul 27, 2023CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Oct 23, 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 <11.7
  2. Affected versionversion=unspecified <12.6
  3. Affected versionversion=unspecified <13.5

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Apple · macOSversion=unspecified <11.7; version=unspecified <12.6; version=unspecified <13.5

Published CVSS scores

5.5NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N

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.

Daily unique IPsNo honeypot observations are available for this CVE in the selected window.

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

T1005Data from Local System

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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