CVE-2023-42844Network attack vector

Sensitive data access via improper symlink resolution

Published Oct 25, 2023 · Updated Feb 13, 2025

Improper symlink resolution in Foundation in Apple macOS allows remote attackers to access sensitive user data via a website. Apple discloses only that Foundation handled symlinks incorrectly during resolution; the precise API, path-validation failure, and data reached are undisclosed. Exposure requires website-driven symlink resolution, and the reported consequence is limited to access to sensitive user data.

CVSS severity7.5
High
EPSS probability1.47%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Improper symlink resolution in Foundation in Apple macOS allows remote attackers to access sensitive user data via a website. Apple discloses only that Foundation handled symlinks incorrectly during resolution; the precise API, path-validation failure, and data reached are undisclosed. Exposure requires website-driven symlink resolution, and the reported consequence is limited to access to sensitive user data.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-42844
Published
Oct 25, 2023
Updated
Feb 13, 2025
Vendor
Apple
Product
macOS
Classifications
CWE-59, T1005
Attack vector
network
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=0 <12.7
  2. Affected versionversion=0 <13.6
  3. Affected versionversion=0 <14.1
  4. Affected versionversion=unspecified <12.7
  5. Affected versionversion=unspecified <13.6
  6. Affected versionversion=unspecified <14.1

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Apple · macOSversion=0 <12.7; version=0 <13.6; version=0 <14.1; version=unspecified <12.7; version=unspecified <13.6; version=unspecified <14.1

Published CVSS scores

7.5NIST NVDCVSS: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-59Improper Link Resolution Before File Access ('Link Following')
T1005Data from Local System

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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