CVE-2023-42859

Protected file-system modification by local apps

Published Feb 21, 2024 · Updated Nov 4, 2025

Improper access control in PackageKit in Apple macOS 12, 13, and 14 allows local apps to modify protected file-system areas. Apple has not disclosed which PackageKit check mishandles an app-controlled request or which protected paths can be written. Exploitation requires code execution as a local app; the documented consequence is limited to unauthorized file-system modification.

CVSS severity5.5
Medium
EPSS probability0.19%
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 PackageKit in Apple macOS 12, 13, and 14 allows local apps to modify protected file-system areas. Apple has not disclosed which PackageKit check mishandles an app-controlled request or which protected paths can be written. Exploitation requires code execution as a local app; the documented consequence is limited to unauthorized file-system modification.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-42859
Published
Feb 21, 2024
Updated
Nov 4, 2025
Vendor
Apple
Product
macOS
Classifications
CWE-284, T1565.001
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=12.0 <12.7.1
  2. Affected versionversion=13.0 <13.6.1
  3. Affected versionversion=14.0 <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 vectorlocal
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Apple · macOSversion=12.0 <12.7.1; version=13.0 <13.6.1; version=14.0 <14.1; version=unspecified <12.7; version=unspecified <13.6; version=unspecified <14.1

Published CVSS scores

5.5NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:N
7.7CISA-ADPCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/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.

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-284Improper Access Control
T1565.001Stored Data 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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