CVE-2023-40528

Privacy preference bypass by local apps

Published Jan 23, 2024 · Updated Nov 4, 2025

Improper access control in Apple iOS, iPadOS, tvOS, watchOS, and macOS allows local apps to bypass Privacy preferences. The flaw resides in Core Data, but Apple has not disclosed the operation that mishandles permission checks; the fix removed the vulnerable code. Execution of an attacker-controlled app and user interaction are required, and the documented consequence is limited to bypassing configured privacy controls.

CVSS severity5.5
Medium
EPSS probability0.24%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Improper access control in Apple iOS, iPadOS, tvOS, watchOS, and macOS allows local apps to bypass Privacy preferences. The flaw resides in Core Data, but Apple has not disclosed the operation that mishandles permission checks; the fix removed the vulnerable code. Execution of an attacker-controlled app and user interaction are required, and the documented consequence is limited to bypassing configured privacy controls.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-40528
Published
Jan 23, 2024
Updated
Nov 4, 2025
Vendor
Apple
Product
iOS and iPadOS
Classifications
CWE-284, T1548.006
Attack vector
local
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Jan 23, 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

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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 <17

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Apple · iOS and iPadOSversion=unspecified <17
Apple · tvOSversion=unspecified <17
Apple · macOSversion=unspecified <13.6; version=unspecified <14
Apple · watchOSversion=unspecified <10

Published CVSS scores

5.5CISA-ADPCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:N
5.5NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/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
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-284Improper Access Control
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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