CVE-2023-38607VulnerabilityPublished 10 Jan 2024Updated 4 Nov 2025

CVE-2023-38607: Apple macOS · An app may be able to modify Printer settings

Affects Apple macOSSource CVE Database V5

Not known to be exploited · CVSS 5.5 Medium.

Data as of 25 Oct 2026, 19:02 UTC

CVSS 3.1 base score

5.5Medium

How severe the flaw is on the 0–10 CVSS scale.

EPSS: 0.1% chance of exploitation in 30 days – higher than 9% of CVEsExploit Prediction Scoring System: the likelihood attackers will use this flaw soon.

CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:N

Attack Vector: Local
Attack Complexity: Low
Privileges Required: None
User Interaction: Required
Scope: Unchanged
Confidentiality: None
Integrity: High
Availability: None

Bold values are the worst case: easiest to exploit or largest impact.

Attack Vector: Local: The vulnerable component is not bound to the network stack and the attacker’s path is via read/write/execute capabilities. Either: the attacker exploits the vulnerability by accessing the target system locally (e.g., keyboard, console), or remotely (e.g., SSH); or the attacker relies on User Interaction by another person to perform actions required to exploit the vulnerability (e.g., tricking a legitimate user into opening a malicious document).
Attack Complexity: Low: Specialized access conditions or extenuating circumstances do not exist. An attacker can expect repeatable success against the vulnerable component.
Privileges Required: None: The attacker is unauthorized prior to attack, and therefore does not require any access to settings or files to carry out an attack.
User Interaction: Required: Successful exploitation of this vulnerability requires a user to take some action before the vulnerability can be exploited.
Scope: Unchanged: An exploited vulnerability can only affect resources managed by the same security authority. In this case, the vulnerable component and the impacted component are either the same, or both are managed by the same security authority.
Confidentiality: None: There is no loss of confidentiality within the impacted component.
Integrity: High: There is a total loss of integrity, or a complete loss of protection. For example, the attacker is able to modify any/all files protected by the impacted component. Alternatively, only some files can be modified, but malicious modification would present a direct, serious consequence to the impacted component.
Availability: None: There is no impact to availability within the impacted component.

Definitions: FIRST CVSS v3.1 specification.

Exploitation evidence

Disclosed: evidence found.
CVE published 10 Jan 2024
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: no evidence on record.
Not in CISA KEV and no source reports exploitation
Observed by OffSeq MirageSeen by Mirage: no evidence on record.
No attack traffic recorded by OffSeq Mirage sensors

A missing step is not evidence of safety. Sources: cve.org (opens in a new tab), the Metasploit, Exploit-DB and nuclei-templates index as of 2026-10-25.

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 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

AI-suggested

European organizations should prioritize upgrading all macOS devices to Sonoma 14 or later to ensure the vulnerability is patched. Until upgrades are complete, restrict application permissions to limit the ability to modify printer settings, using macOS’s built-in privacy and security controls. Implement endpoint protection solutions capable of detecting suspicious local application behavior related to printer management. Educate users about the risks of installing untrusted applications and the importance of not interacting with unexpected prompts that could trigger this vulnerability. Regularly audit printer configurations and logs to detect unauthorized changes. For environments with sensitive printing needs, consider isolating printing systems or using network-level controls to monitor and restrict printer access. Maintain an inventory of macOS devices and their patch status to ensure compliance. Finally, monitor threat intelligence sources for any emerging exploit activity related to this CVE.

Description

The issue was addressed with improved handling of caches. This issue is fixed in macOS Sonoma 14. An app may be able to modify Printer settings.

Impact

For European organizations, this vulnerability primarily threatens the integrity of printing operations on macOS devices. Organizations with critical printing workflows—such as legal, financial, healthcare, and government sectors—may face risks of unauthorized changes to printer configurations, potentially leading to misdirected or altered print jobs, which could cause operational disruptions or information leakage through printed materials. Although confidentiality and availability are not directly impacted, the integrity compromise could facilitate further attacks or data exfiltration via printed documents. The requirement for local access and user interaction limits remote exploitation, but insider threats or malware already present on endpoints could exploit this flaw. Enterprises with mixed OS environments that include macOS systems should be aware of this risk, especially where printers are shared resources. The lack of known exploits reduces immediate risk but does not eliminate the need for timely patching. Failure to address this vulnerability could also affect compliance with data protection regulations if printed sensitive information is manipulated or exposed.

References

Community reviews

Loading reviews…

Exploitation evidence

What to do

Description

AI analysisMachine-generated, updated 4 Nov 2025, 23:52 UTC

Technical details

References

Community reviews

Related threats