CVE-2023-41989

Root code execution via lock-screen options

Published Oct 25, 2023 · Updated Feb 13, 2025

Code execution in the Emoji component of Apple macOS Sonoma before 14.1 allows physically proximate attackers to run code as root. The locked-device interface offered inadequately restricted Emoji options, although Apple has not disclosed the underlying code path. Access to a locked Mac is required, and successful exploitation crosses the lock-screen boundary with full root privileges.

CVSS severity6.8
Medium
EPSS probability0.50%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Code execution in the Emoji component of Apple macOS Sonoma before 14.1 allows physically proximate attackers to run code as root. The locked-device interface offered inadequately restricted Emoji options, although Apple has not disclosed the underlying code path. Access to a locked Mac is required, and successful exploitation crosses the lock-screen boundary with full root privileges.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-41989
Published
Oct 25, 2023
Updated
Feb 13, 2025
Vendor
Apple
Product
macOS
Classifications
T1068
Attack vector
physical
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Oct 25, 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 <14.1

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorphysical
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Apple · macOSversion=unspecified <14.1

Published CVSS scores

6.8NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:P/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

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)
Vectorphysical
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

T1068Exploitation for Privilege Escalation

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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