CVE-2023-42888 is a vulnerability identified in Apple’s iOS and iPadOS platforms, as well as related operating systems including watchOS and macOS. The flaw arises from insufficient validation when processing certain crafted image files, which can cause unintended disclosure of process memory contents. This type of vulnerability is classified under CWE-200 (Exposure of Sensitive Information to an Unauthorized Actor). The vulnerability allows an attacker to craft a malicious image that, when processed by the vulnerable system—such as when a user views or opens the image—can leak sensitive information from the memory of the process handling the image. This could include sensitive data such as cryptographic keys, personal information, or other confidential data residing in memory. The CVSS 3.1 base score is 5.5 (medium severity), reflecting that the attack vector is local (AV:L), requires low attack complexity (AC:L), no privileges (PR:N), but does require user interaction (UI:R). The scope remains unchanged (S:U), and the impact is high on confidentiality (C:H) but none on integrity or availability (I:N, A:N). Apple has addressed this vulnerability by implementing improved validation checks in multiple OS versions, including iOS 16.7.5, iPadOS 16.7.5, watchOS 10.2, macOS Ventura 13.6.4, macOS Sonoma 14.2, macOS Monterey 12.7.3, and iOS/iPadOS 17.2. There are no known exploits in the wild at this time, but the vulnerability poses a risk of sensitive data exposure if exploited. The vulnerability affects a broad range of Apple devices, including iPhones, iPads, Apple Watches, and Macs running the specified OS versions or earlier.

For European organizations, this vulnerability could lead to unauthorized disclosure of sensitive information stored in process memory on Apple devices. This includes potential leakage of credentials, encryption keys, or personal data, which could facilitate further attacks such as account compromise or data breaches. Organizations relying heavily on Apple devices for business operations, especially in sectors handling sensitive or regulated data (e.g., finance, healthcare, government), face increased risk. The requirement for user interaction means phishing or social engineering could be used to deliver malicious images. Although no integrity or availability impact is noted, confidentiality breaches can have severe compliance and reputational consequences under regulations like GDPR. The vulnerability’s medium severity suggests it is a significant risk but not immediately critical, emphasizing the importance of patch management and user training to mitigate exposure.

1. Apply the latest Apple security updates immediately on all affected devices, including iOS 16.7.5, iPadOS 16.7.5, watchOS 10.2, macOS Ventura 13.6.4, macOS Sonoma 14.2, macOS Monterey 12.7.3, and iOS/iPadOS 17.2 or later. 2. Implement strict controls on image file sources by restricting downloads and email attachments from untrusted or unknown senders. 3. Educate users to avoid opening images from suspicious or unsolicited messages to reduce the risk of triggering the vulnerability. 4. Use mobile device management (MDM) solutions to enforce update policies and monitor device compliance. 5. Employ network-level protections such as email filtering and sandboxing to detect and block malicious image files before reaching end users. 6. Monitor for unusual application behavior or memory leaks that could indicate exploitation attempts. 7. Review and limit app permissions to reduce the attack surface related to image processing where feasible.