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Mallory
Critical

Out-of-bounds Write Kernel Code Execution in Apple iOS, iPadOS, macOS, watchOS, and tvOS

IdentifiersCVE-2023-38604CWE-787· Out-of-bounds Write

CVE-2023-38604 is an out-of-bounds write vulnerability in Apple platforms that was addressed through improved input validation. Apple states that exploitation may allow an app to execute arbitrary code with kernel privileges. The issue affects iPhone 8 and later and multiple iPad models, and is fixed in watchOS 9.6, macOS Big Sur 11.7.9, macOS Monterey 12.6.8, macOS Ventura 13.5, tvOS 16.6, iOS 15.7.8, iPadOS 15.7.8, iOS 16.6, and iPadOS 16.6. The specific vulnerable function or subsystem is not identified in the provided content.

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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.

Successful exploitation can result in arbitrary code execution in kernel context. This implies full compromise of the affected device’s operating system security boundary, including the ability to run code with the highest privileges, potentially disable or bypass security controls, tamper with kernel state, access protected memory and sensitive data, and establish deeper persistence on the device.

Mitigation

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

If immediate patching is not possible, reduce exposure by limiting installation and execution of untrusted or unnecessary applications, enforcing strong application control and MDM policies on managed Apple devices, and restricting local app execution to trusted software sources. Because Apple indicates exploitation is app-triggerable, minimizing the ability for an attacker to run a malicious app is the primary interim mitigation. No specific vendor-supplied workaround beyond updating is provided in the content.

Remediation

Patch, then assume compromise.

Apply the vendor fixes provided by Apple. The issue is fixed in watchOS 9.6, macOS Big Sur 11.7.9, macOS Monterey 12.6.8, macOS Ventura 13.5, tvOS 16.6, iOS 15.7.8, iPadOS 15.7.8, iOS 16.6, and iPadOS 16.6. Systems running earlier affected versions should be upgraded to the appropriate patched release.
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
AppleMacosoperating_system
AppleTvosoperating_system
AppleWatchosoperating_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

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Threat actor evidence

Every observed campaign linking this CVE to a named adversary.

Associated malware

Malware families riding this exploit, with evidence and IOCs.

Detection signatures

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 activity

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