CVE-2023-40393Network attack vector

Unauthenticated Hidden Album disclosure via state mishandling

Published Jan 10, 2024 · Updated Nov 4, 2025

Authentication bypass in Apple Photos on iOS and iPadOS before 17 and macOS before 14 allows attackers to view Hidden Album photos. Apple identifies improper authentication state management in Photos but has not published the affected function or state transition. Access requires interaction with Photos on an affected device, and the reported consequence is limited to viewing hidden photos.

CVSS severity7.5
High
EPSS probability0.57%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
Coverage for this vulnerability

See if you're affected

Explore vulnerability checks for your environment with Hinoki.

Book a demo

Summary

What happened

Authentication bypass in Apple Photos on iOS and iPadOS before 17 and macOS before 14 allows attackers to view Hidden Album photos. Apple identifies improper authentication state management in Photos but has not published the affected function or state transition. Access requires interaction with Photos on an affected device, and the reported consequence is limited to viewing hidden photos.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-40393
Published
Jan 10, 2024
Updated
Nov 4, 2025
Vendor
Apple
Product
iOS and iPadOS
Classifications
CWE-306
Attack vector
network
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Jan 10, 2024CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Nov 4, 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.

  1. Affected versionversion=unspecified <17

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Apple · iOS and iPadOSversion=unspecified <17
Apple · macOSversion=unspecified <14

Published CVSS scores

7.5CISA-ADPCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N
7.5NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/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)
Vectornetwork
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-306Missing Authentication for Critical Function

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