CVE-2023-42942: Apple iOS and iPadOS · A malicious app may be able to gain root privileges
Affects Apple iOS and iPadOSSource CVE Database V5
Not known to be exploited · CVSS 7.8 High : upgrade to 17.1 or 16.7.2 soon.
Data as of 26 Oct 2026, 08:30 UTC
- 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.
- Patch
- Available – fixed in 17.1, 16.7.2
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 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 26 Oct 2026.
What to do
Upgrade Apple iOS and iPadOS to 17.1 or 16.7.2.
Affected software
| Product | Affected | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|
| Apple iOS and iPadOS | Affected
| Fixed in
|
AI-suggested
European organizations should implement the following specific mitigation measures: 1) Immediately deploy the security updates released by Apple for iOS, iPadOS, and other affected platforms (iOS 16.7.2, iOS 17.1, iPadOS 16.7.2, iPadOS 17.1, etc.) to ensure the vulnerability is patched. 2) Enforce strict app installation policies by restricting devices to install apps only from the official Apple App Store and consider using Mobile Device Management (MDM) solutions to control app permissions and installations. 3) Conduct regular audits of installed applications to detect and remove any unauthorized or suspicious apps. 4) Educate users about the risks of installing apps from untrusted sources and the importance of timely updates. 5) Monitor device logs and behavior for signs of privilege escalation or unusual activity that may indicate exploitation attempts. 6) For organizations with BYOD policies, enforce compliance checks to ensure devices are updated and secure before granting access to corporate resources. 7) Implement network segmentation and zero-trust principles to limit the impact of any compromised device. 8) Maintain an incident response plan that includes procedures for handling mobile device compromises.
Description
This issue was addressed with improved handling of symlinks. This issue is fixed in watchOS 10.1, macOS Sonoma 14.1, tvOS 17.1, iOS 16.7.2 and iPadOS 16.7.2, iOS 17.1 and iPadOS 17.1, macOS Ventura 13.6.1. A malicious app may be able to gain root privileges.
References
- support.apple.com/en-us/HT213981 (opens in a new tab)
- support.apple.com/en-us/HT213987 (opens in a new tab)
- support.apple.com/en-us/HT213984 (opens in a new tab)
- support.apple.com/en-us/HT213988 (opens in a new tab)
- support.apple.com/en-us/HT213985 (opens in a new tab)
- support.apple.com/en-us/HT213982 (opens in a new tab)
- support.apple.com/kb/HT213988 (opens in a new tab)
- support.apple.com/kb/HT213984 (opens in a new tab)
- support.apple.com/kb/HT213982 (opens in a new tab)