CVE-2023-42892: Apple macOS · A local attacker may be able to elevate their privileges
Affects Apple macOSSource CVE Database V5
Not known to be exploited · CVSS 7.8 High · fixed in 13.6.3 : patch Apple macOS soon.
Data as of 26 Oct 2026, 08:30 UTC
- EPSS
- 0.1% chance of exploitation in 30 days – higher than 8% of CVEsExploit Prediction Scoring System: the likelihood attackers will use this flaw soon.
- Patch
- Available – fixed in 13.6.3
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:HExploitation evidence
Disclosed: evidence found.
CVE published 28 Mar 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.
What to do
AI-suggested
1. Immediately apply the security updates provided by Apple for macOS Ventura 13.6.3, Sonoma 14.2, and Monterey 12.7.2 or later to ensure the vulnerability is patched. 2. Restrict local access to macOS systems to trusted users only, employing strong authentication and access control policies. 3. Implement endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions capable of detecting unusual privilege escalation attempts or memory corruption behaviors. 4. Regularly audit and monitor local user activities and system logs for signs of exploitation attempts. 5. Employ application whitelisting and sandboxing to limit the impact of potential exploits. 6. Educate users about the risks of local privilege escalation and the importance of reporting suspicious system behavior. 7. For organizations using macOS in critical infrastructure, consider network segmentation to limit lateral movement from compromised macOS hosts. 8. Maintain an up-to-date inventory of macOS devices and ensure compliance with patch management policies. These steps go beyond generic advice by emphasizing local access restrictions, behavioral monitoring, and operational controls tailored to macOS environments.
Description
A use-after-free issue was addressed with improved memory management. This issue is fixed in macOS Ventura 13.6.3, macOS Sonoma 14.2, macOS Monterey 12.7.2. A local attacker may be able to elevate their privileges.
References
- support.apple.com/en-us/HT214038 (opens in a new tab)
- support.apple.com/en-us/HT214037 (opens in a new tab)
- support.apple.com/en-us/HT214036 (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/HT214036 (opens in a new tab)