CVE-2023-38564

Protected filesystem modification via insufficient PackageKit checks

Published Jul 27, 2023 · Updated Oct 22, 2024

Access-control weakness in PackageKit in Apple macOS Ventura before 13.5 allows local users to modify protected file-system areas. PackageKit performs insufficient checks when an app requests changes to protected filesystem locations; Apple has not disclosed the affected operation or input. Execution of a locally installed app is required, and successful exploitation permits protected-area writes without any reported data-reading or code-execution impact.

CVSS severity7.5
High
EPSS probability0.54%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Access-control weakness in PackageKit in Apple macOS Ventura before 13.5 allows local users to modify protected file-system areas. PackageKit performs insufficient checks when an app requests changes to protected filesystem locations; Apple has not disclosed the affected operation or input. Execution of a locally installed app is required, and successful exploitation permits protected-area writes without any reported data-reading or code-execution impact.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-38564
Published
Jul 27, 2023
Updated
Oct 22, 2024
Vendor
Apple
Product
macOS
Classifications
T1211
Attack vector
local
Privileges
Unavailable

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Jul 27, 2023CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Oct 22, 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 <13.5

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesUnavailable in this record.

What is affected?

Apple · macOSversion=unspecified <13.5

Published CVSS scores

7.5NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/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.

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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
PrivilegesUnavailable
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

T1211Exploitation for Defense Evasion

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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