VulnerabilityPublished 10 Jan 2024Updated 4 Nov 2025

CVE-2023-40529: Apple iOS and iPadOS · A person with physical access to a device may be able to use VoiceOver to access private calendar

Affects Apple iOS and iPadOSSource CVE Database V5

Not known to be exploited · CVSS 2.4 Low : upgrade to 17 when convenient.

Data as of 26 Oct 2026, 17:16 UTC

CVSS 3.1 base score

2.4Low

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

EPSS: 0.2% chance of exploitation in 30 days – higher than 14% of CVEsExploit Prediction Scoring System: the likelihood attackers will use this flaw soon.
Patch: Available – fixed in 17

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

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

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

Attack Vector: Physical: The attack requires the attacker to physically touch or manipulate the vulnerable component. Physical interaction may be brief or persistent.
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: None: The vulnerable system can be exploited without any interaction from any user.
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: Low: There is some loss of confidentiality. Access to some restricted information is obtained, but the attacker does not have control over what information is obtained, or the amount or kind of loss is limited. The information disclosure does not cause a direct, serious loss to the impacted component.
Integrity: None: There is no loss of integrity within 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 26 Oct 2026.

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 or the CVSS exploit maturity 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

Upgrade apple/ios and apple/ipados to 17.

Affected software

Product	Affected	Fixed in
Appleapple/ios`pkg:deb/apple/ios`Other threats	Affected <17	Fixed in 17
Appleapple/ipados`pkg:deb/apple/ipados`Other threats	Affected <17	Fixed in 17

Check your own hosts for these packages with threat-finder (opens in a new tab), our free open-source scanner.

AI-suggested

To mitigate CVE-2023-40529, European organizations should prioritize updating all iOS and iPadOS devices to version 17 or later, where the vulnerability has been addressed with improved redaction of calendar data in VoiceOver. Additionally, organizations should enforce strict physical security policies for mobile devices, including locking devices when unattended, using strong passcodes, and enabling automatic device lock timers. Disabling VoiceOver or other accessibility features when not needed can reduce the attack surface. Training employees on the risks of leaving devices unattended and the importance of physical security is critical. For highly sensitive environments, consider implementing mobile device management (MDM) solutions that can enforce OS updates and restrict accessibility feature usage. Regular audits of device configurations and access logs can help detect potential misuse. Finally, organizations should monitor for any emerging exploits related to this vulnerability and apply patches promptly.

Description

This issue was addressed with improved redaction of sensitive information. This issue is fixed in iOS 17 and iPadOS 17. A person with physical access to a device may be able to use VoiceOver to access private calendar information.

Impact

For European organizations, the primary impact of CVE-2023-40529 is the potential unauthorized disclosure of sensitive calendar information, which could include confidential business meetings, strategic planning sessions, or personal appointments. This leakage could facilitate targeted social engineering, corporate espionage, or privacy violations. The vulnerability does not allow modification or disruption of data or device functionality, limiting its impact to confidentiality. However, given the widespread use of Apple devices in Europe, particularly in sectors such as finance, government, and technology, the risk of exposure is non-negligible if devices are left unattended or physically accessible to unauthorized individuals. Organizations with mobile workforces or those that handle sensitive scheduling data should be particularly vigilant. The absence of remote exploitation means the threat is mostly relevant in scenarios involving device theft, loss, or insider threats. The low CVSS score reflects the limited scope and complexity, but the sensitivity of calendar data in professional environments elevates the importance of mitigation.

References

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Exploitation evidence

What to do

Affected software

Description

AI analysisMachine-generated, updated 4 Nov 2025, 20:03 UTC

Technical details

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