Actively exploited vulnerability
Apple products: code execution flaw under attack
CVE-2023-41990 · Apple Multiple Products Code Execution Vulnerability
What is affected
Apple products are found on ordinary personal computers and phones, so this is not only a problem for companies. If you use them and have not updated since the fix was released, you are exposed.
Apple iOS, iPadOS, macOS, tvOS, and watchOS contain an unspecified vulnerability that allows for code execution when processing a font file.
What an attacker can do
This is a code execution flaw. It lets an attacker run their own commands or programs on the affected system. In practice that usually means taking it over: installing malware, stealing data or using it to reach other devices on the same network.
- How it is reached
- Needs access to the device or a file opened on it
- Access the attacker needs
- No account needed
- Does the victim have to do something?
- Yes, the victim must open or click something
What to do
- Update Apple products now. Open the update or "About" screen, install whatever is offered and restart the app or device, because the fix is not active until you do.
- Turn on automatic updates so the next fix arrives without you having to look for it.
- If your device is too old to receive this update, stop using the affected app for anything sensitive and plan a replacement.
Apply mitigations per vendor instructions or discontinue use of the product if mitigations are unavailable.
Vendor advisories and fixes
- support.apple.comsupport.apple.com/en-us/HT213599
- support.apple.comsupport.apple.com/en-us/HT213601
- support.apple.comsupport.apple.com/en-us/HT213605
- support.apple.comsupport.apple.com/en-us/HT213606
- support.apple.comsupport.apple.com/en-us/HT213842
- support.apple.comsupport.apple.com/en-us/HT213844
How urgent is it
CISA added this vulnerability to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalogue on January 8, 2024, which means there is reliable evidence of attacks in the wild. US federal agencies must fix it by January 29, 2024, a deadline that has already passed. That deadline does not bind anyone else, but it shows how seriously the agency rates it.
The EPSS model estimates a 1.4% probability that this flaw will be exploited somewhere in the next 30 days. That is higher than 71% of all scored vulnerabilities.
Its CVSS severity score is 7.8 out of 10 (high), as recorded in the US National Vulnerability Database.
Technical description
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.