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HighCISA KEVExploited in the wildPublic exploit

Parallax kernel use-after-free in Apple iOS and iPadOS

IdentifiersCVE-2023-41974CWE-416· Use After Free

CVE-2023-41974 is a kernel use-after-free vulnerability in Apple iOS and iPadOS. Apple describes it as a use-after-free issue in the kernel that was addressed with improved memory management. Successful exploitation allows a malicious application on the device to execute arbitrary code with kernel privileges. Public reporting also identifies this flaw as the kernel privilege-escalation component of the Coruna exploit kit, where it is referred to as “Parallax.” The issue was fixed in iOS 17 and iPadOS 17, and later backported to older supported releases including iOS 15.8.7 and iPadOS 15.8.7.

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For your environment

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ANALYST BRIEF

Impact, mitigation & remediation

What it means. What to do now. Patch path, mitigations, and the assume-compromise checklist.

Impact

What an attacker gets, and what they’ve been doing with it.

Exploitation can result in arbitrary code execution in kernel context, effectively giving the attacker root-equivalent control over the device. This enables deep operating-system access, compromise of sensitive user data, and support for full post-exploitation activity such as implant deployment, privilege escalation from an unprivileged app, and broader device compromise. Reporting on Coruna indicates the flaw was used as a kernel privilege-escalation stage to deploy the PLASMAGRID implant.

Mitigation

If you can’t patch tonight, do this now.

If immediate patching is not possible, reduce exposure by preventing installation and execution of untrusted applications on affected devices and enforcing rapid update compliance for iOS/iPadOS fleets. Apple stated that Lockdown Mode blocks Coruna-related attacks, but this CVE specifically requires a malicious app rather than malicious web content, so patching remains the primary mitigation. Where vendor mitigations cannot be applied, discontinue use of vulnerable devices in sensitive environments.

Remediation

Patch, then assume compromise.

Apply Apple security updates that include the fix for CVE-2023-41974. The vulnerability is fixed in iOS 17 and iPadOS 17, and Apple also backported the fix to older supported devices in iOS 15.8.7 and iPadOS 15.8.7. Organizations should ensure affected legacy devices that cannot run newer major releases receive the applicable backported update immediately.
PUBLIC EXPLOITS

Exploits

No public exploits tracked yet. Mallory keeps watching.

VALID 0 / 0 TOTALView more in app

No public exploit code observed for this vulnerability.

EXPOSURE SURFACE

Affected products & vendors

Products and vendors Mallory has correlated with this vulnerability. Open in Mallory to drill down to specific CPE configurations and version ranges.

VendorProductType
AppleIpadosoperating_system
AppleIphone Osoperating_system

Vendor-confirmed product mapping. Mallory continuously reconciles this list against your asset inventory.

What this page doesn’t show

The version that knows your environment.

This page is what’s public. Mallory adds the parts that aren’t: which of your assets are affected, which adversaries are exploiting it right now, which detections to deploy, and what to do tonight.
Exposure mapping

Query your assets running an affected version, and investigate the blast radius.

Threat actor evidence16

Every observed campaign linking this CVE to a named adversary.

Associated malware22

Malware families riding this exploit, with evidence and IOCs.

Detection signatures1

YARA, Sigma, Snort, and vendor rules, auto-deployed to your SIEM.

Vendor-by-vendor mapping

Cross-references every affected SKU, including bundled OEM variants.

Social activity16

Community discussion across Reddit, Mastodon, and other social sources.