CVE-2023-40454: Apple iOS and iPadOS · An app may be able to delete files for which it does not have permission
Affects Apple iOS and iPadOSSource CVE Database V5
Not known to be exploited.
Data as of 25 Oct 2026, 21:58 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 2026-10-25.
What to do
AI-suggested
Apple has released official fixes for this vulnerability in the following versions: macOS Ventura 13.6, macOS Monterey 12.7, macOS Sonoma 14, tvOS 17, watchOS 10, iOS 16.7, iPadOS 16.7, iOS 17, and iPadOS 17. Users and administrators should update affected devices to these versions or later to remediate the issue.
Description
CVE-2023-40454 is a permissions vulnerability in Apple iOS and iPadOS where an app may be able to delete files without having the appropriate permissions. Apple addressed this issue by adding additional restrictions and has released fixes in multiple operating system versions including iOS 16.7, iPadOS 16.7, iOS 17, iPadOS 17, macOS Ventura 13.6, macOS Monterey 12.7, macOS Sonoma 14, tvOS 17, and watchOS 10.
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/HT213927 (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/3 (opens in a new tab)
- seclists.org/fulldisclosure/2023/Oct/4 (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/HT213927 (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)