Use after free in Apple tvOS
Key facts
- Attack vector
- Local
- Privileges required
- None
- User interaction
- Required
- Attack complexity
- Low
- Impact type
- Code execution
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
- High · High · High
- Fix status
- Fixed
Attack profile from CVSS 3.1 · NVD. Fix status from CNA. Impact type from CWE-416 and the CVSS impact.
Summary
A use-after-free issue was addressed with improved memory management. This issue is fixed in macOS Monterey 12.6.8, iOS 16.6 and iPadOS 16.6, tvOS 16.6, macOS Big Sur 11.7.9, macOS Ventura 13.5, watchOS 9.6. An app may be able to execute arbitrary code with kernel privileges.
Why it matters now
SSVC decision points
CISA ADP · SSVC 2.0.3
- Exploitation
- None
- Automatable
- No
- Technical impact
- Total
The decision (Track, Attend, Act) also depends on your mission and well-being impact; see CISA's SSVC guide.
Affected products
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apple | tvOS | before 16.6 | 16.6 | Patch available | CNA |
| Apple | iOS and iPadOS | before 16.6 | 16.6 | Patch available | CNA |
| Apple | macOS | before 13.5 | 13.5 | Patch available | CNA |
| Apple | macOS | before 11.7 | 11.7 | Patch available | CNA |
| Apple | macOS | before 12.6 | 12.6 | Patch available | CNA |
| Apple | watchOS | before 9.6 | 9.6 | Patch available | CNA |
- tvOS VendorApple Affected before 16.6 Fixed in 16.6 Patch available CNA
- iOS and iPadOS VendorApple Affected before 16.6 Fixed in 16.6 Patch available CNA
- macOS VendorApple Affected before 13.5 Fixed in 13.5 Patch available CNA
- macOS VendorApple Affected before 11.7 Fixed in 11.7 Patch available CNA
- macOS VendorApple Affected before 12.6 Fixed in 12.6 Patch available CNA
- watchOS VendorApple Affected before 9.6 Fixed in 9.6 Patch available CNA
CPE configurations NVD · 5
| CPE | Versions | Role | Vendor |
|---|---|---|---|
| cpe:2.3:o:apple:ipados:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | before 16.6 | Vulnerable | Apple |
| cpe:2.3:o:apple:iphone_os:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | before 16.6 | Vulnerable | Apple |
| cpe:2.3:o:apple:macos:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 11.0 to before 11.7.9; 12.0.0 to before 12.6.8; 13.0 to before 13.5 | Vulnerable | Apple |
| cpe:2.3:o:apple:tvos:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | before 16.6 | Vulnerable | Apple |
| cpe:2.3:o:apple:watchos:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | before 9.6 | Vulnerable | Apple |
- cpe:2.3:o:apple:ipados:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions before 16.6 Vulnerable ·Apple
- cpe:2.3:o:apple:iphone_os:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions before 16.6 Vulnerable ·Apple
- cpe:2.3:o:apple:macos:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 11.0 to before 11.7.9; 12.0.0 to before 12.6.8; 13.0 to before 13.5 Vulnerable ·Apple
- cpe:2.3:o:apple:tvos:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions before 16.6 Vulnerable ·Apple
- cpe:2.3:o:apple:watchos:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions before 9.6 Vulnerable ·Apple
Remediation
- Fix · CNA tvOS (Apple) Fixed in 16.6
- Fix · CNA iOS and iPadOS (Apple) Fixed in 16.6
- Fix · CNA macOS (Apple) Fixed in 13.5
- Fix · CNA macOS (Apple) Fixed in 11.7
- Fix · CNA macOS (Apple) Fixed in 12.6
- Fix · CNA watchOS (Apple) Fixed in 9.6
Fixed in the same release
Records fixed by the same vendor advisory or release, as the CNA lists them.
- Release ·
Apple macOS 13.5
11 records Highest priority Priority CRITICAL 1 CRITICAL, 1 HIGH, 2 MEDIUM, 7 LOW
Other records, highest priority first
- TI-2023-19062 Apple Safari: Processing web content may lead to arbitrary code executionPriority CRITICAL 97
- TI-2023-19978 Apple tvOS: An app may be able to modify sensitive kernel statePriority HIGH 82
- TI-2023-19966 Apple Safari: Processing web content may lead to arbitrary code executionPriority MEDIUM 41
- Release ·
Apple iOS and iPadOS 16.6
9 records Highest priority Priority CRITICAL 1 CRITICAL, 1 HIGH, 2 MEDIUM, 5 LOW
Other records, highest priority first
- TI-2023-19062 Apple Safari: Processing web content may lead to arbitrary code executionPriority CRITICAL 97
- TI-2023-19978 Apple tvOS: An app may be able to modify sensitive kernel statePriority HIGH 82
- TI-2023-19966 Apple Safari: Processing web content may lead to arbitrary code executionPriority MEDIUM 41
Show 2 more groups
- Release ·
Apple tvOS, watchOS 16.6, 9.6
6 records Highest priority Priority CRITICAL 1 CRITICAL, 1 HIGH, 1 MEDIUM, 3 LOW
Other records, highest priority first
- TI-2023-19062 Apple Safari: Processing web content may lead to arbitrary code executionPriority CRITICAL 97
- TI-2023-19978 Apple tvOS: An app may be able to modify sensitive kernel statePriority HIGH 82
- TI-2023-19966 Apple Safari: Processing web content may lead to arbitrary code executionPriority MEDIUM 41
- Release ·
Apple macOS 11.7, 12.6
5 records Highest priority Priority HIGH 1 HIGH, 4 LOW
Other records, highest priority first
- TI-2023-19978 Apple tvOS: An app may be able to modify sensitive kernel statePriority HIGH 82
- TI-2023-18646 Apple macOS: Processing a file may lead to unexpected app termination or arbitrary code…Priority LOW 36
- TI-2023-15720 Use after free in Apple tvOSPriority LOW 36
Timeline
- 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2023-32381
- 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-g5hv-c3g8-mc9x
References
More Apple Ipados vulnerabilities
- TI-2025-28008 Out-of-bounds write in Apple iOS and iPadOS KEVCVSS 3.1CRITICAL 10.0
- TI-2025-22441 Apple iOS and iPadOS: An attacker with arbitrary read and write capability may be able to… KEVCVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.8
- TI-2025-22440 Memory corruption in Apple iOS and iPadOS KEVCVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.8
- TI-2025-17951 Out-of-bounds write in Apple Safari KEVCVSS 3.1CRITICAL 10.0
- TI-2025-17847 Use after free in Apple iOS and iPadOS KEVCVSS 3.1CRITICAL 10.0
- TI-2022-06854 Out-of-bounds write in Apple iOS and iPadOS KEVCVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.8
Sources
- CVE-2023-32381 · CVE Program
- CVE-2023-32381 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-g5hv-c3g8-mc9x · GitHub Advisory Database · CC BY 4.0
This product uses the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD. Sources and licences