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CVE-2023-42917

Apple Multiple Products WebKit Memory Corruption

8.8 HIGHActively exploited (CISA KEV)EPSS 9.29%
  1. Published30 Nov 2023
  2. Added to CISA KEV4 Dec 2023
  3. Remediation due25 Dec 2023
Actively exploited (CISA KEV)

Apple iOS, iPadOS, macOS, and Safari WebKit contain a memory corruption vulnerability that leads to code execution when processing maliciously crafted web content. This vulnerability could impact HTML parsers that use WebKit, including but not limited to Apple Safari and non-Apple products which rely on WebKit for HTML processing.

Added to KEV: 4 Dec 2023Federal remediation due: 25 Dec 2023

Description

A memory corruption vulnerability was addressed with improved locking. This issue is fixed in iOS 17.1.2 and iPadOS 17.1.2, macOS Sonoma 14.1.2, Safari 17.1.2. Processing web content may lead to arbitrary code execution. Apple is aware of a report that this issue may have been exploited against versions of iOS before iOS 16.7.1.

CVSS 3.1 breakdown

Attack vectorNetwork
Attack complexityLow
Privileges requiredNone
User interactionRequired
ScopeUnchanged
ConfidentialityHigh
IntegrityHigh
AvailabilityHigh
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

Affected products

Apple Safari< 17.1.2
Webkitgtk Webkitgtk+< 2.42.3
Apple iPadOS≥ 16.0 < 16.7.3 · ≥ 17.0 < 17.1.2 · < 15.8.1
Apple iPhone OS≥ 16.0 < 16.7.3 · ≥ 17.0 < 17.1.2 · < 15.8.1
Apple macOS≥ 14.0 < 14.1.2
Debian Linux11.0 · 12.0
Fedoraproject Fedora38 · 39

Remediation

Fixed in
Apple Safari≥ 17.1.2
Webkitgtk Webkitgtk+≥ 2.42.3
Apple iPadOS≥ 16.7.3
Apple iPhone OS≥ 16.7.3
Apple macOS≥ 14.1.2

References

and 9 more references

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Frequently asked

Is CVE-2023-42917 being actively exploited?

Yes. CVE-2023-42917 is listed in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog, added 4 Dec 2023.

How severe is CVE-2023-42917?

CVE-2023-42917 has a CVSS 3.1 base score of 8.8, rated high. EPSS estimates a 9.29% probability of exploitation.

Which products are affected by CVE-2023-42917?

Affected products include Apple Safari, Webkitgtk Webkitgtk+, Apple iPadOS, Apple iPhone OS, Apple macOS, and 2 more.

How do I fix CVE-2023-42917?

Upgrade affected software to a fixed version, for example Apple Safari 17.1.2, Webkitgtk Webkitgtk+ 2.42.3, Apple iPadOS 16.7.3 or later, then confirm no affected versions remain in your inventory.

How Secuno handles this

Secuno correlates vulnerabilities like CVE-2023-42917 against the real software inventory on every managed device, as each hourly inventory arrives. Rather than a static severity, each match is scored in context: exploit availability, EPSS, the asset's exposure, and business criticality decide where it lands in the queue. Because it is on the CISA KEV list, a risk for it never ranks below high, and the update that fixes it moves to the Emergency patch lane. If an affected version is present anywhere across your portfolio, it surfaces automatically with a prioritised remediation path.

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Data from the NVD, CISA KEV catalog and FIRST EPSS. CVSS 3.1 base score shown where available.