CVE-2023-40434: Apple iOS and iPadOS · An app may be able to access a user's Photos Library
Affects Apple iOS and iPadOSSource CVE Database V5
Not known to be exploited.
Data as of 26 Oct 2026, 07:57 UTC
Rated High by the CNA (apple) · No CVSS score from NVD or the CNA
- EPSS
- 0.2% chance of exploitation in 30 days – higher than 22% of CVEsExploit Prediction Scoring System: the likelihood attackers will use this flaw soon.
Exploitation evidence
Disclosed: evidence found.
CVE published 26 Sep 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: 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 2026-10-26.
What to do
AI-suggested
This vulnerability is fixed in iOS 17 and iPadOS 17. Users and administrators should update devices to these versions or later to remediate the issue. No additional mitigation steps are indicated.
Description
A configuration issue in Apple iOS and iPadOS could allow an app to access a user's Photos Library without proper authorization. This vulnerability was addressed with additional restrictions and fixed in iOS 17 and iPadOS 17, as well as macOS Sonoma 14.
References
- support.apple.com/en-us/HT213938 (opens in a new tab)
- support.apple.com/en-us/HT213940 (opens in a new tab)
- seclists.org/fulldisclosure/2023/Oct/8 (opens in a new tab)
- seclists.org/fulldisclosure/2023/Oct/3 (opens in a new tab)
- support.apple.com/kb/HT213940 (opens in a new tab)
- support.apple.com/kb/HT213938 (opens in a new tab)