CVE-2023-38609

Privacy preference bypass via PackageKit injection

Published Jul 28, 2023 · Updated Feb 13, 2025

Injection in PackageKit in Apple macOS Ventura before 13.5 allows attackers to bypass certain Privacy preferences through an app. PackageKit accepts attacker-controlled input without sufficient validation, but Apple has not disclosed the affected interface, field, or downstream operation. Execution of an app is required, and the disclosed consequence is limited to circumventing macOS privacy controls; the protected resources are unspecified.

CVSS severity7.5
High
EPSS probability1.09%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Injection in PackageKit in Apple macOS Ventura before 13.5 allows attackers to bypass certain Privacy preferences through an app. PackageKit accepts attacker-controlled input without sufficient validation, but Apple has not disclosed the affected interface, field, or downstream operation. Execution of an app is required, and the disclosed consequence is limited to circumventing macOS privacy controls; the protected resources are unspecified.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-38609
Published
Jul 28, 2023
Updated
Feb 13, 2025
Vendor
Apple
Product
macOS
Classifications
CWE-74, T1548.006
Attack vector
local
Privileges
Unavailable

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Jul 28, 2023CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Feb 13, 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 <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

CWE-74Improper Neutralization of Special Elements in Output Used by a Downstream Component ('Injection')
T1548.006TCC Manipulation

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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