CVE-2023-41061: Apple iOS and iPadOS · Improper Input Validation
Affects Apple iOS and iPadOSSource CVE Database V5
Exploited in the wild · KEV due 2 Oct 2023 · 4% EPSS : upgrade to 16.6.1 now.
Data as of 26 Oct 2026, 14:05 UTC
- KEV deadline
- US federal agencies must patch by this date; a sensible deadline for everyone else. Other KEV due dates
- EPSS
- 4.4% chance of exploitation in 30 days – higher than 91% of CVEsExploit Prediction Scoring System: the likelihood attackers will use this flaw soon.
- Patch
- Available – fixed in 16.6.1
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:HExploitation evidence
t = 0 is the CVE’s publication on cve.org
Disclosed: evidence found.
CVE published 7 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: evidence found.
Listed in CISA KEV 4 days after disclosure
Observed by OffSeq MirageSeen by Mirage: no evidence on record.
No attack traffic recorded by OffSeq Mirage sensors
Timeline
CVE ID reserved
by Apple Inc.
, 16 days before disclosure
CVE published
on cve.org
, t = 0
Added to CISA KEV (opens in a new tab)
exploitation confirmed
, 4 days after disclosure
KEV remediation due
US federal deadline
, 25 days after disclosure
A missing step is not evidence of safety. Sources: cve.org (opens in a new tab), CISA KEV (opens in a new tab), the Metasploit, Exploit-DB and nuclei-templates index as of 26 Oct 2026.
What to do
Upgrade apple/ios and apple/ipados to 16.6.1.
Affected software
| Product | Affected | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|
Appleapple/iospkg:deb/apple/iosOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in
|
Appleapple/ipadospkg:deb/apple/ipadosOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in
|
Check your own hosts for these packages with threat-finder (opens in a new tab), our free open-source scanner.
Description
A validation issue was addressed with improved logic. This issue is fixed in watchOS 9.6.2, iOS 16.6.1 and iPadOS 16.6.1. A maliciously crafted attachment may result in arbitrary code execution. Apple is aware of a report that this issue may have been actively exploited.
References
- support.apple.com/en-us/HT213905 (opens in a new tab)
- support.apple.com/en-us/HT213907 (opens in a new tab)
- support.apple.com/kb/HT213907 (opens in a new tab)
- support.apple.com/kb/HT213905 (opens in a new tab)
- seclists.org/fulldisclosure/2023/Sep/5 (opens in a new tab)
- seclists.org/fulldisclosure/2023/Sep/4 (opens in a new tab)
- cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2023-41061 (opens in a new tab)