Kernel memory disclosure via insufficient bounds checks
Published Sep 26, 2023 · Updated Nov 4, 2025
Out-of-bounds read in IOAcceleratorFamily in Apple macOS before 14 allows remote attackers to read kernel memory or terminate the system. IOAcceleratorFamily reads beyond a buffer boundary because it does not adequately validate bounds, although Apple has not disclosed the affected function or input. No privileges or user interaction are required; successful exploitation exposes kernel contents or forces unexpected system termination.
Summary
What happened
Out-of-bounds read in IOAcceleratorFamily in Apple macOS before 14 allows remote attackers to read kernel memory or terminate the system. IOAcceleratorFamily reads beyond a buffer boundary because it does not adequately validate bounds, although Apple has not disclosed the affected function or input. No privileges or user interaction are required; successful exploitation exposes kernel contents or forces unexpected system termination.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2023-40436
- Published
- Sep 26, 2023
- Updated
- Nov 4, 2025
- Vendor
- Apple
- Product
- macOS
- Classifications
- CWE-125
- Attack vector
- network
- 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
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.
- Affected versionversion=unspecified <14
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.
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