CVE-2023-41990
Apple Multiple Products Code Execution Vulnerability
Apple Multiple Products
The issue was addressed with improved handling of caches. This issue is fixed in tvOS 16.3, iOS 16.3 and iPadOS 16.3, macOS Monterey 12.6.8, macOS Big Sur 11.7.9, iOS 15.7.8 and iPadOS 15.7.8, macOS Ventura 13.2, watchOS 9.3. Processing a font file may lead to arbitrary code execution. Apple is aware of a report that this issue may have been actively exploited against versions of iOS released before iOS 15.7.1.
Exploitation status
CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities
Listed by CISA on 8 January 2024. US federal agencies were required to remediate it by 29 January 2024.
EPSS — exploitation probability
FIRST puts the probability of exploitation activity in the next 30 days at 1.4%, which is higher than 72% 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:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Frequently asked questions
Is CVE-2023-41990 being exploited by ransomware groups?
No ransomware group in this database is currently recorded as exploiting CVE-2023-41990.
What does CVE-2023-41990 affect?
CVE-2023-41990 affects Apple Multiple Products. The issue was addressed with improved handling of caches. This issue is fixed in tvOS 16.3, iOS 16.3 and iPadOS 16.3, macOS Monterey 12.6.8, macOS Big Sur 11.7.9, iOS 15.7.8 and iPadOS 15.7.8, macOS Ventura 13.2, watchOS 9.3. Processing a font file may lead to arbitrary code execution. Apple is aware of a report that this issue may have been actively exploited against versions of iOS released before iOS 15.7.1.
How severe is CVE-2023-41990?
CVE-2023-41990 is rated HIGH with a CVSS base score of 7.8. EPSS puts the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days at 1.4%, higher than 72% of all scored vulnerabilities. It is listed in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog, with a federal remediation deadline of 29 January 2024.
How should organisations respond to CVE-2023-41990?
Apply the vendor patch for Apple Multiple Products 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.