CVE-2023-40452: Apple iOS and iPadOS · An app may be able to overwrite arbitrary files
Affects Apple iOS and iPadOSSource CVE Database V5
Not known to be exploited.
Data as of 26 Oct 2026, 10:12 UTC
Rated High by the CNA (apple) · No CVSS score from NVD or the CNA
- EPSS
- 0.3% chance of exploitation in 30 days – higher than 28% 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 26 Oct 2026.
What to do
AI-suggested
Apply the official fixes by updating to the fixed versions: iOS 17, iPadOS 17, macOS Ventura 13.6, tvOS 17, macOS Monterey 12.7, watchOS 10, or macOS Sonoma 14. These updates include improved bounds checks that resolve the vulnerability.
Description
CVE-2023-40452 is a vulnerability in Apple iOS and iPadOS where a malicious app may be able to overwrite arbitrary files. The issue was addressed by Apple through improved bounds checks and is fixed in multiple Apple operating system versions including iOS 17 and iPadOS 17.
References
- support.apple.com/en-us/HT213938 (opens in a new tab)
- support.apple.com/en-us/HT213932 (opens in a new tab)
- support.apple.com/en-us/HT213931 (opens in a new tab)
- support.apple.com/en-us/HT213936 (opens in a new tab)
- support.apple.com/en-us/HT213940 (opens in a new tab)
- support.apple.com/en-us/HT213937 (opens in a new tab)
- seclists.org/fulldisclosure/2023/Oct/5 (opens in a new tab)
- seclists.org/fulldisclosure/2023/Oct/10 (opens in a new tab)
- seclists.org/fulldisclosure/2023/Oct/6 (opens in a new tab)
- seclists.org/fulldisclosure/2023/Oct/8 (opens in a new tab)
- seclists.org/fulldisclosure/2023/Oct/9 (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/HT213932 (opens in a new tab)
- support.apple.com/kb/HT213931 (opens in a new tab)
- support.apple.com/kb/HT213938 (opens in a new tab)
- support.apple.com/kb/HT213937 (opens in a new tab)
- support.apple.com/kb/HT213936 (opens in a new tab)