CVE-2023-42942Public exploit

Root privilege escalation via improper symlink handling

Published Feb 21, 2024 · Updated Nov 4, 2025

Improper symlink handling in Apple iOS, iPadOS, macOS, tvOS, and watchOS allows local users to gain root privileges through a malicious app. The libxpc flaw follows an attacker-controlled symbolic link during privileged file handling, redirecting an operation to an unintended path. Local app execution is required, and successful exploitation grants root-level control over the affected device.

CVSS severity7.8
High
EPSS probability0.39%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Improper symlink handling in Apple iOS, iPadOS, macOS, tvOS, and watchOS allows local users to gain root privileges through a malicious app. The libxpc flaw follows an attacker-controlled symbolic link during privileged file handling, redirecting an operation to an unintended path. Local app execution is required, and successful exploitation grants root-level control over the affected device.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-42942
Published
Feb 21, 2024
Updated
Nov 4, 2025
Vendor
Apple
Product
iOS
Classifications
CWE-59, CAPEC-132, T1068
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

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=0 <16.7
  2. Affected versionversion=17.0 <17.1

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

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

7.8CISA-ADPCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
7.8NIST NVDCVSS: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 9, 2026Sep 15, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 15, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectorlocal
Privilegesauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitPublished

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-59Improper Link Resolution Before File Access ('Link Following')
CAPEC-132Symlink Attack
T1068Exploitation for Privilege Escalation

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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