CVE-2023-42838: Apple macOS · An app may be able to execute arbitrary code out of its sandbox or with certain elevated privileges in
Affects Apple macOSSource CVE Database V5
Not known to be exploited · CVSS 8.2 High · fixed in 14.1 : patch Apple macOS soon.
Data as of 25 Oct 2026, 19:02 UTC
- EPSS
- 0.1% chance of exploitation in 30 days – higher than 9% of CVEsExploit Prediction Scoring System: the likelihood attackers will use this flaw soon.
- Patch
- Available – fixed in 14.1, 13.6.3, 12.7.2
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:HExploitation evidence
Disclosed: evidence found.
CVE published 21 Feb 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 2026-10-25.
What to do
Upgrade Apple macOS to 14.1, 13.6.3 or 12.7.2.
Affected software
| Product | Affected | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|
| Apple macOS | Affected
| Fixed in
|
AI-suggested
1. Immediately apply the security updates released by Apple for macOS Ventura 13.6.3, Sonoma 14.1, and Monterey 12.7.2 to remediate this vulnerability. 2. Conduct an inventory of all macOS devices within the organization to ensure they are updated and compliant. 3. Restrict local administrative privileges to minimize the risk of exploitation requiring high privilege levels. 4. Monitor system logs and application behavior for signs of sandbox escape attempts or unusual privilege escalations. 5. Implement endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions capable of detecting anomalous process behaviors on macOS. 6. Educate users with elevated privileges about the risks and signs of compromise. 7. Review and tighten sandbox policies and application permissions where possible to reduce attack surface. 8. Establish incident response plans specific to macOS environments to quickly address potential exploitation. These steps go beyond generic patching by emphasizing proactive detection, privilege management, and user awareness tailored to this vulnerability’s characteristics.
Description
An access issue was addressed with improvements to the sandbox. This issue is fixed in macOS Ventura 13.6.3, macOS Sonoma 14.1, macOS Monterey 12.7.2. An app may be able to execute arbitrary code out of its sandbox or with certain elevated privileges.
References
- support.apple.com/en-us/HT214038 (opens in a new tab)
- support.apple.com/en-us/HT213984 (opens in a new tab)
- support.apple.com/en-us/HT214037 (opens in a new tab)
- support.apple.com/kb/HT214038 (opens in a new tab)
- support.apple.com/kb/HT214037 (opens in a new tab)
- support.apple.com/kb/HT213984 (opens in a new tab)