CVE-2023-42903

Arbitrary code execution via crafted file

Published Dec 12, 2023 · Updated Nov 4, 2025

Memory corruption in Apple macOS before 14.2 allows attackers to execute arbitrary code or terminate an app via a maliciously crafted file. The specific component and validation failure are undisclosed in Apple's advisory, which only states that improved input validation corrected multiple memory corruption issues. Exploitation requires a local user or application to process the crafted file; resulting impact ranges from unexpected application termination to code execution in that process context.

CVSS severity7.8
High
EPSS probability0.31%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Memory corruption in Apple macOS before 14.2 allows attackers to execute arbitrary code or terminate an app via a maliciously crafted file. The specific component and validation failure are undisclosed in Apple's advisory, which only states that improved input validation corrected multiple memory corruption issues. Exploitation requires a local user or application to process the crafted file; resulting impact ranges from unexpected application termination to code execution in that process context.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-42903
Published
Dec 12, 2023
Updated
Nov 4, 2025
Vendor
Apple
Product
macOS
Classifications
CWE-787, T1203
Attack vector
local
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Dec 12, 2023CVE 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=unspecified <14.2

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Apple · macOSversion=unspecified <14.2

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.

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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)
Vectorlocal
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-787Out-of-bounds Write
T1203Exploitation for Client Execution

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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