Sandbox escape via undisclosed kernel memory handling
Published Dec 12, 2023 · Updated Nov 4, 2025
Memory-handling flaw in the Apple kernel on affected iOS, iPadOS, macOS, tvOS, and watchOS releases allows local users to escape an app sandbox. Apple identifies the Kernel as the affected component but has not published the faulty memory operation or attacker-controlled input. A malicious app must execute locally; successful exploitation crosses its sandbox boundary, with no reported confidentiality or availability impact.
Summary
What happened
Memory-handling flaw in the Apple kernel on affected iOS, iPadOS, macOS, tvOS, and watchOS releases allows local users to escape an app sandbox. Apple identifies the Kernel as the affected component but has not published the faulty memory operation or attacker-controlled input. A malicious app must execute locally; successful exploitation crosses its sandbox boundary, with no reported confidentiality or availability impact.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2023-42914
- Published
- Dec 12, 2023
- Updated
- Nov 4, 2025
- Vendor
- Apple
- Product
- iOS and iPadOS
- Classifications
- T1404, T1068
- Attack vector
- local
- Privileges
- unauthenticated
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Dec 12, 2023CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- 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.
- Affected versionversion=unspecified <16.7
- Affected versionversion=unspecified <17.2
What conditions does exploitation require?
What is affected?
Published CVSS scores
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.
Weakness, pattern, technique
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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