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CVE-2023-40437: An app may be able to read sensitive location information in Apple iOS and iPadOS

Medium
VulnerabilityCVE-2023-40437cvecve-2023-40437
Published: Wed Jan 10 2024 (01/10/2024, 22:03:10 UTC)
Source: CVE Database V5
Vendor/Project: Apple
Product: iOS and iPadOS

Description

A privacy issue was addressed with improved private data redaction for log entries. This issue is fixed in iOS 16.6 and iPadOS 16.6, macOS Ventura 13.5. An app may be able to read sensitive location information.

AI-Powered Analysis

AILast updated: 07/04/2025, 14:10:05 UTC

Technical Analysis

CVE-2023-40437 is a privacy vulnerability identified in Apple iOS and iPadOS platforms, specifically affecting versions prior to iOS 16.6 and iPadOS 16.6, as well as macOS Ventura 13.5. The issue stems from insufficient redaction of sensitive location data within system log entries. This flaw allows a malicious application to potentially access and read sensitive location information that should otherwise be protected. The vulnerability does not require privileges (PR:N) but does require user interaction (UI:R), meaning an attacker would need the user to launch or interact with the malicious app. The attack vector is local (AV:L), indicating exploitation requires local access to the device, such as installing or running an app. The vulnerability impacts confidentiality (C:H) but does not affect integrity or availability. The CVSS score is 5.5, reflecting a medium severity level. Apple addressed this issue by improving private data redaction in logs, preventing unauthorized apps from extracting location data. No known exploits are currently reported in the wild. This vulnerability highlights the risk of sensitive data leakage through system logs, which can be overlooked in standard app sandboxing and permission models.

Potential Impact

For European organizations, the leakage of sensitive location information through compromised or malicious apps can have significant privacy and security implications. Location data can reveal employee movements, sensitive site visits, or operational patterns, which could be exploited for targeted attacks, espionage, or competitive intelligence. Organizations handling sensitive or regulated data, such as those in finance, government, healthcare, or critical infrastructure, may face compliance risks under GDPR and other privacy regulations if location data is exposed without consent. The medium severity suggests that while the vulnerability is not trivially exploitable remotely, the risk remains for insider threats or social engineering attacks leading to installation of malicious apps. The impact is heightened in environments where iOS/iPadOS devices are widely used for business operations, especially in sectors relying on mobile workforce or location-based services.

Mitigation Recommendations

European organizations should ensure all iOS and iPadOS devices are updated to version 16.6 or later, and macOS devices to Ventura 13.5 or later, to apply the patch that fixes this vulnerability. Mobile Device Management (MDM) solutions should enforce timely OS updates and restrict installation of untrusted or unauthorized applications to reduce risk of malicious app deployment. Organizations should audit app permissions and educate users about the risks of installing apps from unverified sources. Additionally, monitoring device logs and network traffic for unusual access patterns or data exfiltration attempts related to location data can help detect exploitation attempts. For highly sensitive environments, consider restricting use of personal devices or implementing strict app vetting policies. Finally, review privacy policies and compliance documentation to ensure any potential data leakage is accounted for and mitigated.

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Technical Details

Data Version
5.1
Assigner Short Name
apple
Date Reserved
2023-08-14T20:26:36.261Z
Cvss Version
3.1
State
PUBLISHED

Threat ID: 683f0a31182aa0cae27f6e9c

Added to database: 6/3/2025, 2:44:01 PM

Last enriched: 7/4/2025, 2:10:05 PM

Last updated: 7/28/2025, 9:02:15 AM

Views: 9

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