CVE-2023-28206
Apple iOS, iPadOS, and macOS IOSurfaceAccelerator Out-of-Bounds Write Vulnerability
Apple iOS, iPadOS, and macOS
An out-of-bounds write issue was addressed with improved input validation. This issue is fixed in macOS Monterey 12.6.5, iOS 16.4.1 and iPadOS 16.4.1, macOS Ventura 13.3.1, iOS 15.7.5 and iPadOS 15.7.5, macOS Big Sur 11.7.6. An app may be able to execute arbitrary code with kernel privileges. Apple is aware of a report that this issue may have been actively exploited.
Exploitation status
CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities
Listed by CISA on 10 April 2023. US federal agencies were required to remediate it by 1 May 2023.
EPSS — exploitation probability
FIRST puts the probability of exploitation activity in the next 30 days at 23.2%, which is higher than 97.8% of all scored vulnerabilities. EPSS is a forecast of activity, not a measure of severity, and it is rescored daily.
CVSS vector
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H
Frequently asked questions
Is CVE-2023-28206 being exploited by ransomware groups?
No ransomware group in this database is currently recorded as exploiting CVE-2023-28206.
What does CVE-2023-28206 affect?
CVE-2023-28206 affects Apple iOS, iPadOS, and macOS. An out-of-bounds write issue was addressed with improved input validation. This issue is fixed in macOS Monterey 12.6.5, iOS 16.4.1 and iPadOS 16.4.1, macOS Ventura 13.3.1, iOS 15.7.5 and iPadOS 15.7.5, macOS Big Sur 11.7.6. An app may be able to execute arbitrary code with kernel privileges. Apple is aware of a report that this issue may have been actively exploited.
How severe is CVE-2023-28206?
CVE-2023-28206 is rated HIGH with a CVSS base score of 8.6. EPSS puts the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days at 23.2%, higher than 97.8% of all scored vulnerabilities. It is listed in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog, with a federal remediation deadline of 1 May 2023.
How should organisations respond to CVE-2023-28206?
Apply the vendor patch for Apple iOS, iPadOS, and macOS as the first priority, and treat any internet-facing instance as the most urgent. Because this vulnerability is associated with ransomware activity, also review whether the affected systems were reachable before patching, rather than assuming that patching alone closes the incident.