VulnerabilityPublished 23 Jun 2023Updated 21 Oct 2025

CVE-2023-32409: Apple macOS · A remote attacker may be able to break out of Web Content sandbox. Apple is aware of a report that this issue may have been actively exploited.

Affects Apple macOSSource CVE Database V5

Exploited in the wild · KEV due 12 Jun 2023 · 16% EPSS : apply the vendor's fix or mitigations to Apple macOS now.

Data as of 26 Oct 2026, 10:12 UTC

Exploitation

Actively exploited

High severity · No CVSS score from NVD or the CNA

KEV deadline: 12 Jun 2023 US federal agencies must patch by this date; a sensible deadline for everyone else.
EPSS: 16.5% chance of exploitation in 30 days – higher than 96% of CVEsExploit Prediction Scoring System: the likelihood attackers will use this flaw soon.

Exploitation evidence

t = 0 is the CVE’s publication on cve.org

Disclosed: evidence found.
CVE published 23 Jun 2023
Detectable: no evidence on record.
No public nuclei template indexed
Weaponised: no evidence on record.
No public exploit code indexed in Metasploit or Exploit-DB
Exploited in the wildExploited: evidence found.
Listed in CISA KEV 32 days before disclosure
Observed by OffSeq MirageSeen by Mirage: no evidence on record.
No attack traffic recorded by OffSeq Mirage sensors

CVE ID reserved
by Apple Inc.
8 May 2023, 46 days before disclosure
Added to CISA KEV (opens in a new tab)
exploitation confirmed
22 May 2023, 32 days before disclosure
KEV remediation due
US federal deadline
12 Jun 2023, 11 days before disclosure
CVE published
on cve.org
23 Jun 2023, t = 0

A missing step is not evidence of safety. Sources: cve.org (opens in a new tab), CISA KEV (opens in a new tab), the Metasploit, Exploit-DB and nuclei-templates index as of 26 Oct 2026.

Disclosed: The CVE record is public on cve.org. Its publication is t = 0.
Detectable: A public nuclei template can find exposed instances, for defenders and attackers alike.
Weaponised: Public exploit code exists in Metasploit or Exploit-DB, or CISA SSVC or the CVSS exploit maturity reports a public proof of concept.
Exploited in the wild: CISA KEV lists it, CISA SSVC rates exploitation active, or a source reports attacks.
Observed by OffSeq Mirage: OffSeq Mirage honeypot sensors recorded attack traffic for this CVE, or found exposed hosts without attack traffic.

Moments are spaced evenly, not to scale; a dashed line marks a gap of six months or more. Deltas count from t = 0. Sources that give only a date (CISA KEV, Exploit-DB, or a time of exactly 00:00Z) read “same day” rather than hours. Metasploit modules carry the flaw’s disclosure date, not their release date, and nuclei templates carry no date, so both appear above but not on the timeline.

What to do

Apply updates per vendor instructions.

Description

CVE-2023-32409 is a vulnerability in Apple macOS and related Apple operating systems that allows a remote attacker to potentially break out of the Web Content sandbox. This sandbox is designed to isolate web content processes to prevent malicious code from affecting the broader system. The vulnerability has been addressed by Apple through improved bounds checking and fixed in multiple OS versions including macOS Ventura 13.4, iOS 15.7.8, iPadOS 15.7.8, and Safari 16.5. Although Apple is aware of reports that this vulnerability may have been actively exploited, no confirmed widespread exploitation has been documented.

Impact

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2023-32409 could be significant, especially for those with extensive use of Apple devices in corporate environments, including macOS laptops, iPhones, and iPads. Successful exploitation could allow attackers to bypass sandbox protections, leading to arbitrary code execution, data theft, or installation of persistent malware. This could compromise sensitive corporate data, intellectual property, and user privacy. Sectors such as finance, healthcare, government, and critical infrastructure, which often use Apple devices for secure communications and operations, could face operational disruptions and reputational damage. The remote nature of the exploit increases risk as attackers do not require physical access or complex user interaction, making phishing or drive-by web attacks viable vectors. Additionally, the active exploitation reports suggest that threat actors may be targeting high-value victims, increasing the urgency for European organizations to assess and remediate vulnerable systems. Failure to patch could result in breaches that are difficult to detect due to the stealthy nature of sandbox escapes.

Mitigation

European organizations should prioritize immediate deployment of the security updates released by Apple for macOS Ventura 13.4, iOS 15.7.8, iPadOS 15.7.8, Safari 16.5, and other affected platforms. Beyond patching, organizations should implement network-level protections such as web filtering to block access to known malicious sites and employ endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions capable of monitoring for unusual process behavior indicative of sandbox escapes. User education should emphasize caution when interacting with unsolicited web content or links, even on trusted devices. Organizations should audit their Apple device inventory to ensure all endpoints are updated and maintain strict control over software installation privileges. Monitoring logs for anomalies in web content processes and sandbox violations can help detect exploitation attempts. For high-security environments, consider restricting or isolating web browsing capabilities on Apple devices until patches are confirmed applied. Incident response plans should be updated to include scenarios involving sandbox escape exploits. Collaboration with Apple support and threat intelligence sharing within European cybersecurity communities can enhance detection and response capabilities.

References

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Exploitation evidence

Timeline

What to do

Description

AI analysisMachine-generated, updated 28 Oct 2025, 23:47 UTC

Technical details

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