CVE-2023-42977

Sandbox escape via insufficient path validation

Published Apr 11, 2025 · Updated Feb 26, 2026

Path validation failure in Power Services in iOS and iPadOS before 17 and macOS before 14 allows local users to escape an app sandbox. The component accepts a path without sufficient validation, allowing a sandboxed app to cross its assigned containment boundary. Exploitation requires a locally installed app and user interaction; Apple has not disclosed the crafted path format or the resources reachable after escape.

CVSS severity7.8
High
EPSS probability0.20%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Path validation failure in Power Services in iOS and iPadOS before 17 and macOS before 14 allows local users to escape an app sandbox. The component accepts a path without sufficient validation, allowing a sandboxed app to cross its assigned containment boundary. Exploitation requires a locally installed app and user interaction; Apple has not disclosed the crafted path format or the resources reachable after escape.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-42977
Published
Apr 11, 2025
Updated
Feb 26, 2026
Vendor
Apple
Product
iOS and iPadOS
Classifications
CWE-20, T1068
Attack vector
local
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Apr 11, 2025CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Feb 26, 2026Record 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 <17

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Apple · iOS and iPadOSversion=unspecified <17
Apple · macOSversion=unspecified <14

Published CVSS scores

7.8CISA-ADPCVSS: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 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 exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-20Improper Input Validation
T1068Exploitation for Privilege Escalation

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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