CVE-2023-42853Public exploit

Sensitive-data access via ignored file-protection flag

Published Feb 21, 2024 · Updated Nov 4, 2025

Improper access control in Apple macOS PackageKit before 12.7.1, 13.6.1, and 14.1 allows local users to access sensitive data. PackageKit's shove logic checks SF_RESTRICTED through rootless_check_trusted_fd but ignores SF_NOUNLINK when following a destination symlink and propagating flags. Exploitation requires a malicious local app and user interaction; the disclosed consequence is unauthorized access to protected user data.

CVSS severity5.5
Medium
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

Improper access control in Apple macOS PackageKit before 12.7.1, 13.6.1, and 14.1 allows local users to access sensitive data. PackageKit's shove logic checks SF_RESTRICTED through rootless_check_trusted_fd but ignores SF_NOUNLINK when following a destination symlink and propagating flags. Exploitation requires a malicious local app and user interaction; the disclosed consequence is unauthorized access to protected user data.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-42853
Published
Feb 21, 2024
Updated
Nov 4, 2025
Vendor
Apple
Product
macOS
Classifications
CWE-284, T1562.001, T1005
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

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.

  1. Affected versionversion=unspecified <12.7
  2. Affected versionversion=unspecified <13.6
  3. Affected versionversion=unspecified <14.1

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

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

Published CVSS scores

5.5NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N
5.5CISA-ADPCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/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.

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No observations available

Sep 9, 2026Sep 15, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 15, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectorlocal
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitPublished

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-284Improper Access Control
T1562.001Impair Defenses Disable or Modify Tools
T1005Data from Local System

Public exploit references

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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