CVE-2023-42848

Heap corruption via inadequate ImageIO bounds checks

Published Feb 21, 2024 · Updated Nov 4, 2025

Heap corruption in ImageIO in Apple iOS, iPadOS, macOS, tvOS, and watchOS allows attackers to corrupt heap memory via a crafted image. ImageIO processes image data without adequate bounds checks, allowing an out-of-bounds write into heap storage. Exploitation requires a user or application to process the image; published evidence establishes no more specific consequence than heap corruption.

CVSS severity7.8
High
EPSS probability0.21%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Heap corruption in ImageIO in Apple iOS, iPadOS, macOS, tvOS, and watchOS allows attackers to corrupt heap memory via a crafted image. ImageIO processes image data without adequate bounds checks, allowing an out-of-bounds write into heap storage. Exploitation requires a user or application to process the image; published evidence establishes no more specific consequence than heap corruption.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-42848
Published
Feb 21, 2024
Updated
Nov 4, 2025
Vendor
Apple
Product
iOS
Classifications
CWE-122, CWE-787, T1204.002
Attack vector
local
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Feb 21, 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=0 <16.7
  2. Affected versionversion=17.0 <17.1

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Apple · iOSversion=0 <16.7; version=17.0 <17.1
Apple · iOS and iPadOSversion=unspecified <16.7; version=unspecified <17.1
Apple · tvOSversion=0 <17.1; version=unspecified <17.1
Apple · macOSversion=0 <13.6.1; version=14.0 <14.1; version=unspecified <13.6; version=unspecified <14.1
Apple · iPadOSversion=0 <16.7; version=17.0 <17.1
Apple · watchOSversion=0 <10.1; version=unspecified <10.1

Published CVSS scores

7.8NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/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.

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)
Vectorlocal
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-122Heap-based Buffer Overflow
CWE-787Out-of-bounds Write
T1204.002User Execution: Malicious File

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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