Link following in Apple iOS and iPadOS
Key facts
- Attack vector
- Local
- Privileges required
- None
- User interaction
- Required
- Attack complexity
- Low
- Impact type
- Information disclosure
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
- High · None · None
- Fix status
- Fixed
Attack profile from CVSS 3.1 · NVD. Fix status from CNA. Impact type from CWE-59 and the CVSS impact.
Summary
This issue was addressed with improved validation of symlinks. This issue is fixed in macOS Ventura 13.6, tvOS 17, macOS Monterey 12.7, watchOS 10, iOS 17 and iPadOS 17, macOS Sonoma 14. An app may be able to read arbitrary files.
Why it matters now
SSVC decision points
CISA ADP · SSVC 2.0.3
- Exploitation
- None
- Automatable
- No
- Technical impact
- Partial
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 | iOS and iPadOS | before 17 | 17 | Patch available | CNA |
| Apple | macOS | before 12.7 | 12.7 | Patch available | CNA |
| Apple | macOS | before 13.6 | 13.6 | Patch available | CNA |
| Apple | tvOS | before 17 | 17 | Patch available | CNA |
| Apple | macOS | before 14 | 14 | Patch available | CNA |
| Apple | watchOS | before 10 | 10 | Patch available | CNA |
- iOS and iPadOS VendorApple Affected before 17 Fixed in 17 Patch available CNA
- macOS VendorApple Affected before 12.7 Fixed in 12.7 Patch available CNA
- macOS VendorApple Affected before 13.6 Fixed in 13.6 Patch available CNA
- tvOS VendorApple Affected before 17 Fixed in 17 Patch available CNA
- macOS VendorApple Affected before 14 Fixed in 14 Patch available CNA
- watchOS VendorApple Affected before 10 Fixed in 10 Patch available CNA
CPE configurations NVD · 5
| CPE | Versions | Role | Vendor |
|---|---|---|---|
| cpe:2.3:o:apple:ipados:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | before 17.0 | Vulnerable | Apple |
| cpe:2.3:o:apple:iphone_os:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | before 17.0 | Vulnerable | Apple |
| cpe:2.3:o:apple:macos:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 12.0.0 to before 12.7; 13.0 to before 13.6 | Vulnerable | Apple |
| cpe:2.3:o:apple:tvos:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | before 17.0 | Vulnerable | Apple |
| cpe:2.3:o:apple:watchos:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | before 10.0 | Vulnerable | Apple |
- cpe:2.3:o:apple:ipados:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions before 17.0 Vulnerable ·Apple
- cpe:2.3:o:apple:iphone_os:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions before 17.0 Vulnerable ·Apple
- cpe:2.3:o:apple:macos:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 12.0.0 to before 12.7; 13.0 to before 13.6 Vulnerable ·Apple
- cpe:2.3:o:apple:tvos:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions before 17.0 Vulnerable ·Apple
- cpe:2.3:o:apple:watchos:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions before 10.0 Vulnerable ·Apple
Remediation
- Fix · CNA iOS and iPadOS (Apple) Fixed in 17
- Fix · CNA macOS (Apple) Fixed in 12.7
- Fix · CNA macOS (Apple) Fixed in 13.6
- Fix · CNA tvOS (Apple) Fixed in 17
- Fix · CNA macOS (Apple) Fixed in 14
- Fix · CNA watchOS (Apple) Fixed in 10
Fixed in the same release
Records fixed by the same vendor advisory or release, as the CNA lists them.
- Release ·
Apple macOS 14
60 records Highest priority Priority MEDIUM 9 MEDIUM, 51 LOW
Other records, highest priority first
- TI-2023-21273 Apple macOS: A sandboxed process may be able to circumvent sandbox restrictionsPriority MEDIUM 52
- TI-2023-21219 Apple iOS and iPadOS: A remote user may cause an unexpected app termination or arbitrary…Priority MEDIUM 52
- TI-2023-19959 Apple macOS: A sandboxed process may be able to circumvent sandbox restrictionsPriority MEDIUM 52
- Release ·
Apple iOS and iPadOS 17
48 records Highest priority Priority MEDIUM 5 MEDIUM, 43 LOW
Other records, highest priority first
- TI-2023-21219 Apple iOS and iPadOS: A remote user may cause an unexpected app termination or arbitrary…Priority MEDIUM 52
- TI-2023-21698 Code injection in Apple iOS and iPadOSPriority MEDIUM 47
- TI-2023-21266 Apple iOS and iPadOS: A remote attacker may be able to break out of Web Content sandboxPriority MEDIUM 47
Show 4 more groups
- Release ·
Apple watchOS 10
37 records Highest priority Priority MEDIUM 5 MEDIUM, 32 LOW
Other records, highest priority first
- TI-2023-21219 Apple iOS and iPadOS: A remote user may cause an unexpected app termination or arbitrary…Priority MEDIUM 52
- TI-2023-21698 Code injection in Apple iOS and iPadOSPriority MEDIUM 47
- TI-2023-21266 Apple iOS and iPadOS: A remote attacker may be able to break out of Web Content sandboxPriority MEDIUM 47
- Release ·
Apple tvOS 17
34 records Highest priority Priority MEDIUM 4 MEDIUM, 30 LOW
Other records, highest priority first
- TI-2023-21219 Apple iOS and iPadOS: A remote user may cause an unexpected app termination or arbitrary…Priority MEDIUM 52
- TI-2023-21698 Code injection in Apple iOS and iPadOSPriority MEDIUM 47
- TI-2023-21266 Apple iOS and iPadOS: A remote attacker may be able to break out of Web Content sandboxPriority MEDIUM 47
- Release ·
Apple macOS 13.6
18 records Highest priority Priority LOW 18 LOW
Other records, highest priority first
- TI-2023-22366 Code injection in Apple iOS and iPadOSPriority LOW 37
- TI-2023-21695 Use after free in Apple iOS and iPadOSPriority LOW 36
- TI-2023-21687 Apple iOS and iPadOS: An app may be able to execute arbitrary code with kernel privilegesPriority LOW 36
- Release ·
Apple macOS 12.7
14 records Highest priority Priority LOW 14 LOW
Other records, highest priority first
- TI-2023-22366 Code injection in Apple iOS and iPadOSPriority LOW 37
- TI-2023-21231 Apple iOS and iPadOS: An app may be able to execute arbitrary code with kernel privilegesPriority LOW 36
- TI-2023-21228 Apple iOS and iPadOS: An app may be able to execute arbitrary code with kernel privilegesPriority LOW 36
Timeline
- 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2023-41968
- 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-f7p3-fcmr-gw5f
References
Advisory 7
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-2023-41968 · CVE Program
- CVE-2023-41968 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-f7p3-fcmr-gw5f · 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