Sensitive user-data disclosure via improper Kernel permissions
Published Sep 26, 2023 · Updated Nov 4, 2025
A permissions flaw in the Apple Kernel before iOS 17, iPadOS 17, tvOS 17, watchOS 10, and macOS 14 allows local users to read sensitive data. Apple has not disclosed the affected Kernel permission check or the validation error that admits an app's request. Exploitation requires a user to run an app locally; the documented consequence is sensitive user-data disclosure without integrity or availability impact.
Summary
What happened
A permissions flaw in the Apple Kernel before iOS 17, iPadOS 17, tvOS 17, watchOS 10, and macOS 14 allows local users to read sensitive data. Apple has not disclosed the affected Kernel permission check or the validation error that admits an app's request. Exploitation requires a user to run an app locally; the documented consequence is sensitive user-data disclosure without integrity or availability impact.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2023-40429
- Published
- Sep 26, 2023
- Updated
- Nov 4, 2025
- Vendor
- Apple
- Product
- iOS and iPadOS
- Classifications
- T1005
- Attack vector
- local
- Privileges
- unauthenticated
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Sep 26, 2023CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- Nov 4, 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.
- Affected versionversion=unspecified <17
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.
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Technologies
Your stack
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Your stack
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