CVE-2023-41968: Apple iOS and iPadOS · An app may be able to read 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 32% 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 updates from Apple that include the fix for this vulnerability: iOS 17, iPadOS 17, macOS Ventura 13.6, macOS Monterey 12.7, macOS Sonoma 14, tvOS 17, and watchOS 10. These updates improve symlink validation and prevent exploitation of this issue.
Description
CVE-2023-41968 is a vulnerability in Apple iOS and iPadOS where an app may be able to read arbitrary files due to insufficient validation of symbolic links. This issue has been addressed by Apple with improved symlink validation and 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)