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Full vulnerability report · 2023
CVE-2023-41064High confidence

Apple iOS, iPadOS, and macOS ImageIO Buffer Overflow Vulnerability

Apple · iOS, iPadOS, and macOS

7.8HighCVSS 3.1
Recommended action
Mitigate now

CISA confirms exploitation in the wild and lists 2023-10-02 as the remediation due date.

Mitigation available
R
Operational reassessment

Published severity in operational context

Open reassessment dashboard →
Published severityHighOperational priority:Critical, raised one band.upgradedsince 11 Sep 2023

Evidence used

  • CISA confirms exploitation in the wild.
  • EPSS is 53.40% for the current model date.

Compensating controls

  • Apply the linked authoritative mitigation while planning the permanent fix.
  • Restrict local access and enforce least privilege on affected hosts.
  • Increase monitoring for the attack path and post-exploitation behaviour described in the report.

Verification

  1. Confirm that the asset runs Apple iOS, iPadOS, and macOS and falls inside the recorded affected range.
  2. Recheck the vendor advisory before scheduling a change because no verified fixed version is currently retained.
  3. Validate exposure, authentication requirements and compensating controls in the actual environment.
  4. Reopen this reassessment when CVSS, KEV, EPSS, exploit evidence or remediation changes.
Mitigation target: Within 3 daysRemediation target: Within 90 days

This automated reassessment organises public evidence. It does not know asset exposure, business impact or control effectiveness and does not replace CVSS or a human risk decision.

Optional official sources

National CERT insights
?CERT means Computer Emergency Response Team; CSIRT is the closely related term Computer Security Incident Response Team.

Choose official national sources for this report. Each advisory shows its original language. Your selection is remembered on this device and included in shared links.

Official European source

ENISA European Vulnerability Database

Official EUVD identifiers, advisory evidence and known-exploited context. Missing fields are not treated as evidence of low risk.

1 current
ENISA EUVD identifier

EUVD-2023-45585

CISA KEV mirrored by ENISA

A buffer overflow issue was addressed with improved memory handling. This issue is fixed in iOS 16.6.1 and iPadOS 16.6.1, macOS Monterey 12.6.9, macOS Ventura 13.5.2, iOS 15.7.9 and iPadOS 15.7.9, macOS Big Sur 11.7.10. Processing a maliciously crafted image may lead to arbitrary code execution. Apple is aware of a report that this issue may have been actively exploited.

EUVD state
Present in the current official mapping
Known exploitation
Recorded by ENISA since 11 Sep 2023. Evidence sources: cisa_kev.
ENISA score
7.8 · CVSS 3.1
Advisory evidence
2 linked advisory records
Recommended actionMitigate now

CISA confirms exploitation in the wild and lists 2023-10-02 as the remediation due date.

Mitigation available
01

What, why and how

Apple iOS, iPadOS, and macOS contain a buffer overflow vulnerability in ImageIO when processing a maliciously crafted image, which may lead to code execution. This vulnerability was chained with CVE-2023-41061.

What

Apple iOS, iPadOS, and macOS contain a buffer overflow vulnerability in ImageIO when processing a maliciously crafted image, which may lead to code execution. This vulnerability was chained with CVE-2023-41061.

Why

The product copies an input buffer to an output buffer without verifying that the size of the input buffer is less than the size of the output buffer.

How

An attacker operating through local access may attempt exploitation without authentication after a user interaction. If successful, the issue may cause the confidentiality, integrity or availability impact described by the vendor.

What

Apple iOS, iPadOS, and macOS contain a buffer overflow vulnerability in ImageIO when processing a maliciously crafted image, which may lead to code execution. This vulnerability was chained with CVE-2023-41061.

Why

The product copies an input buffer to an output buffer without verifying that the size of the input buffer is less than the size of the output buffer.

How

An attacker operating through local access may attempt exploitation without authentication after a user interaction. If successful, the issue may cause the confidentiality, integrity or availability impact described by the vendor.

02

Exploit reality and attack path

CVSS severity, EPSS forecast probability, public exploit material and CISA-confirmed exploitation are separate signals.

Observed exploitation
?Confirmed exploitation and public exploit material are separate signals. Attacks can occur without public proof-of-concept or exploit code.
Confirmed in the wild

CISA added this CVE to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalogue on 2023-09-11.

Public PoC / exploit material
?Confirmed exploitation and public exploit material are separate signals. Attacks can occur without public proof-of-concept or exploit code.
None recorded

No exploit-tagged reference or CISA SSVC proof-of-concept state is currently recorded. Research may still exist outside the structured feeds.

Likely attack path
local access → Buffer Copy without Checking Size of Input ('Classic Buffer Overflow') → cause the confidentiality, integrity or availability impact described by the vendor
Attack surface
Local
Privileges required
None: unauthenticated exploitation is possible
User interaction
Required interaction required
Attack complexity
Low: no specialised conditions are recorded
Security boundary
Unchanged: impact remains within the vulnerable component's security authority
Weakness
?CWE means Common Weakness Enumeration: a standard category for the underlying weakness.
CWE-120 ↗

CWE-120: Buffer Copy without Checking Size of Input ('Classic Buffer Overflow'). The product copies an input buffer to an output buffer without verifying that the size of the input buffer is less than the size of the output buffer.

CVSS vector
?CVSS means Common Vulnerability Scoring System. The vector records the metric values used to calculate technical severity.
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

Common Vulnerability Scoring System 3.1: the compact vector below is decoded into plain language.

AVLocalAttack vector: The attacker needs local access to the vulnerable system.ACLowAttack complexity: No specialised conditions are required beyond attacker-controlled input.PRNonePrivileges required: The attacker does not need an account or existing privileges.UIRequiredUser interaction: Another user must perform an action for exploitation to succeed.SUnchangedScope: The security impact remains within the vulnerable component's authority.CHighConfidentiality impact: A successful attack can cause a major loss.IHighIntegrity impact: A successful attack can cause a major loss.AHighAvailability impact: A successful attack can cause a major loss.
Post-exploitation / living off the land
The issue can support a local privilege or sandbox boundary transition; normal system utilities may then be available in the gained context.
UnauthenticatedCWE-120CISA KEV
A

Official authority intelligence

Only matched European and national findings are included. Language selectors and unavailable sources are omitted.

ENISA EUVD · EUVD-2023-45585Known-exploited evidence recorded

A buffer overflow issue was addressed with improved memory handling. This issue is fixed in iOS 16.6.1 and iPadOS 16.6.1, macOS Monterey 12.6.9, macOS Ventura 13.5.2, iOS 15.7.9 and iPadOS 15.7.9, macOS Big Sur 11.7.10. Processing a maliciously crafted image may lead to arbitrary code execution. Apple is aware of a report that this issue may have been actively exploited.

Official EUVD record ↗
BSI · German · WID-SEC-2023-2289Apple macOS: Schwachstelle ermöglicht Codeausführung

Ein entfernter, anonymer Angreifer kann eine Schwachstelle in Apple macOS ausnutzen, um beliebigen Programmcode auszuführen.

Official advisory ↗
BSI · German · WID-SEC-2023-2288Apple iOS: Mehrere Schwachstellen ermöglichen Codeausführung

Ein entfernter, anonymer Angreifer kann mehrere Schwachstellen in Apple iOS und Apple iPadOS ausnutzen, um beliebigen Programmcode auszuführen.

Official advisory ↗
Canadian Centre for Cyber Security · English · AV23-538Apple security advisory (AV23-538)

On September 11, 2023, Apple published security updates to address a vulnerability in the following products: Apple has received reports that CVE-2023-41064 has been exploited.

Official advisory ↗
Canadian Centre for Cyber Security · English · AV23-534Apple security advisory (AV23-534)

On September 7, 2023, Apple published security updates to address vulnerabilities in the following products: Apple has received reports that CVE-2023-41064 and CVE-2023-41061 have been actively exploited.

Official advisory ↗
Cyber Security Agency of Singapore · English · CSA-SB-20230913Security Bulletin 13 Sep 2023

The Cyber Security Agency of Singapore included this CVE in its official Security Bulletin 13 Sep 2023, published on 13 September 2023. Open the linked bulletin for the product, severity and reference information published in that issue.

Official advisory ↗
CERT-FR · French · CERTFR-2023-AVI-0729Vulnérabilité dans les produits Apple

Une vulnérabilité a été découverte dans les produits Apple . Elle permet à un attaquant de provoquer une exécution de code arbitraire.

Official advisory ↗
CERT-FR · French · CERTFR-2023-AVI-0720Multiples vulnérabilités dans les produits Apple

De multiples vulnérabilités ont été découvertes dans les produits Apple . Elles permettent à un attaquant de provoquer une atteinte à la confidentialité des données et une exécution de code arbitraire. L'éditeur a connaissance de rapports indiquant que les vulnérabilités CVE-2023-41061 et CVE-2023-41064 sont activement exploitées.

Official advisory ↗
JVN iPedia · Japanese · JVNDB-2023-012696複数のアップル製品における古典的バッファオーバーフローの脆弱性

アップルの iPadOS、iOS、macOS には、古典的バッファオーバーフローの脆弱性が存在します。

Official advisory ↗
KISA KrCERT/CC · Korean · KNVD-5984현재 악용되고 있는 Exploit(Update. 2023-09-11)

Apple iOS, iPadOS, and macOS contain a buffer overflow vulnerability in ImageIO when processing a maliciously crafted image, which may lead to code execution. This vulnerability was chained with CVE-2023-41061.

Official advisory ↗
03

Patch and workaround

Operational remediation based on structured source evidence.

Status
?Patch availability is based on structured fixed-version fields and authoritative update references. If no fix is verified, check the vendor advisory before making a change.
Mitigation available
Affected
Fixed
No fixed version is explicitly recorded in the structured CVE data.
Action
The Cyber Centre encourages users and administrators to review the provided web link and apply the necessary updates.
Workaround
No verified workaround is recorded. Limit untrusted access and use least privilege until authoritative guidance is available.
Official vendor articles2 stored documents

Linked articles are downloaded and versioned as source evidence. A CVE mention or approved update relationship does not, by itself, verify a fix for every product branch.

04

Evidence and provenance

Published 7 Sept 2023 · Last source change 4 Nov 2025, 22:04 UTC · CWE-120 · Buffer Copy without Checking Size of Input ('Classic Buffer Overflow')

CVE recordCVE.org · 5.2
CVSS sourceNIST NVD
EPSS source
?The date BlackTree first stored a score for this CVE from the daily FIRST EPSS feed.
FIRST · tracked since 2026-08-14
European sourceENISA EUVD · EUVD-2023-45585
Product sourceCISA KEV
Remediation sourceCVE/CNA references
CWE sourceCISA ADP
NVD statusNVD enriched

Core structured fields are present and their contributing authorities are shown above.

Material change intelligence

What changed after publication

View recent updates ↗
  1. Vendor guidanceAuthoritative vendor guidance changed: removed remediation: cyber.gc.ca/apple-security-advisory-av23-538.
    Before
    remediation: cyber.gc.ca/apple-security-advisory-av23-538 · vendor advisory: support.apple.com/HT213905 · vendor advisory: support.apple.com/HT213906 · 3 more references
    After
    vendor advisory: support.apple.com/HT213905 · vendor advisory: support.apple.com/HT213906 · vendor advisory: support.apple.com/HT213913 · 2 more references
    support.apple.com ↗
  2. Remediation statusRemediation status changed from Mitigation available to Awaiting fix.
    Before
    Mitigation available
    After
    Awaiting fix
    support.apple.com ↗
  3. Affected versionsThe structured affected or fixed version information changed.
    Before
    unspecified < 12.6; unspecified < 11.7; unspecified < 16.6; unspecified < 15.7; unspecified < 13.5 · Fixed: No fixed version is explicitly recorded in the structured CVE data.
    After
    macOS: unspecified < 12.6, unspecified < 11.7, unspecified < 13.5; iOS and iPadOS: unspecified < 16.6, unspecified < 15.7 · Fixed: No fixed version is explicitly recorded in the structured CVE data.
    CNA ↗
  4. Remediation statusRemediation status changed from Awaiting fix to Mitigation available.
    Before
    Awaiting fix
    After
    Mitigation available
    Canadian Centre for Cyber Security ↗
Material fields only · duplicate refreshes suppressed · history retained for the configured operational retention period
CVE published
Added to CISA KEV
Remediation guidance recorded
ENISA EUVD · EUVD-2023-45585↗Canadian Centre for Cyber Security remediation guidance↗CISA KEV record↗CVE authority or vendor reference↗Vendor advisory↗Vendor advisory↗Vendor advisory↗Official CVE record (CNA and ADP data)↗NVD record↗
Technical terms and abbreviations used in this report
CVE
Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures: the public identifier for one disclosed vulnerability.
CVSS
Common Vulnerability Scoring System: a technical severity framework; it is not patching priority by itself.
EPSS
Exploit Prediction Scoring System: FIRST's estimate of the probability that exploitation activity will be observed in the next 30 days; it is a forecast, not confirmation.
CWE
Common Weakness Enumeration: the standard category describing the underlying software or hardware weakness.
CNA
CVE Numbering Authority: an organisation authorised to assign and publish CVE records.
CISA ADP
Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency Authorized Data Publisher: structured enrichment added to a CVE record.
NVD
National Vulnerability Database: NIST's enrichment service for CVE records.
CERT / CSIRT
A computer security incident response team that publishes warnings or coordinates incident response.
PoC
Proof of concept: public material that demonstrates or helps reproduce exploitation.
CSAF
Common Security Advisory Framework: a machine-readable format for security advisories.
LoTL
Living off the land: abuse of legitimate tools or system functions during an attack.
Free version - for non-commercial use only.CVE-2023-41064 · cve.blacktree.nl