WebKit arbitrary code execution in Apple iOS, iPadOS, macOS, Safari, tvOS, and watchOS
CVE-2023-38611 is a WebKit memory-handling vulnerability in Apple platforms where processing malicious web content may lead to arbitrary code execution. Apple states the issue was addressed with improved memory handling and fixed in iOS 16.6, iPadOS 16.6, tvOS 16.6, macOS Ventura 13.5, Safari 16.6, and watchOS 9.6. The available advisory text does not identify the specific vulnerable function or root memory-corruption primitive beyond improved memory handling. Apple also states it is aware of a report that this issue may have been actively exploited.
Are you exposed to this one?
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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.
Mitigation
If you can’t patch tonight, do this now.
Remediation
Patch, then assume compromise.
Exploits
1 valid exploit after Mallory filtered fakes, detection scripts, and README-only repos.
This repository is a multi-file Apple WebKit/JSC exploit research collection centered on CVE-2024-23222, with numerous auxiliary HTML PoCs for other Safari/WebKit vulnerabilities. It is not a framework module; it is a standalone research repo containing browser-delivered exploit pages, a local Python HTTP collector, and one native C helper. Structure: - README.md documents the intended full exploit chain: a malicious HTML page triggers CVE-2024-23222 in JavaScriptCore, obtains addrof/read64/write64 primitives, then uses a crafted WebAssembly indirect-call trampoline to invoke native libc functions on an A11 iPhone X running iOS 16.4.1. The documented post-exploitation action is opening and writing /tmp/pwned_cve_2024_23222, presented as proof of sandbox escape. - poc/server.py is the operator-side infrastructure. It serves HTML files over HTTP on port 8765, exposes GET/POST /results for telemetry collection, and GET/POST /signal for auxiliary signaling. - find_gigacage.c is a native Mach-based memory scanner that uses task_for_pid, vm_region_recurse_64, and vm_read to locate JSC/Gigacage-related regions and sentinels in another process. This supports exploit development and address discovery rather than remote exploitation. - poc/exploit_23222.html is an earlier standalone Stage 1 exploit for CVE-2024-23222. It contains the core exploitation logic: WebAssembly modules, type confusion setup, arbitrary read/write primitives, addrof, and JIT/JSC structure offset handling. It posts progress markers and results back to /results. - poc/ironloader_diag.html is a diagnostic page for CVE-2023-32409 (“IronLoader”), reusing similar Stage 1 primitives and adding logic to inspect IPC/GPU-related structures. - The remaining poc/cve-*.html files are mostly self-contained browser PoCs or vulnerability checkers for specific CVEs. They generally trigger a suspicious code path, observe crashes/misbehavior, and POST a verdict plus logs to /results. Several are more detection-oriented than weaponized. Main exploit capabilities: - Browser-based initial access via a malicious HTML page. - JSC/WebAssembly memory corruption leading to arbitrary address disclosure and 64-bit read/write in the renderer. - Arbitrary native function invocation by overwriting a WASM indirect-call target slot. - Demonstrated sandbox escape behavior by calling _open/_write on /tmp/pwned_cve_2024_23222. - Extensive telemetry/logging back to a local HTTP server. Notable targeting details: - Primary target is Apple iPhone X (A11, no PAC), iOS 16.4.1, Safari 16.4.1. - The exploit assumes device/version-specific offsets and an ASLR slide known in advance/offline. - README explicitly notes limitations such as inability to directly read dyld cache from JS and failure of mmap(PROT_EXEC), indicating this is a real exploit-development repo rather than a simple detector. Assessment: - The repository contains genuine exploit code and PoCs. The main CVE-2024-23222 chain is operational but environment-specific, with a basic hardcoded payload (proof-file creation) rather than a flexible post-exploitation framework. Auxiliary files broaden the repo into a WebKit vulnerability lab with multiple browser-based tests and diagnostics.
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.
Vendor-confirmed product mapping. Mallory continuously reconciles this list against your asset inventory.
Recent activity
2 sources tracked across advisories, community write-ups, and news. New activity surfaces here as Mallory finds it.
A web content processing issue leading to arbitrary code execution; Apple reports it may have been actively exploited.
Vulnerabilità in elaborazione contenuti web che può portare a esecuzione di codice arbitrario; Apple indica possibile sfruttamento attivo (in-the-wild).
The version that knows your environment.
Query your assets running an affected version, and investigate the blast radius.
Every observed campaign linking this CVE to a named adversary.
Malware families riding this exploit, with evidence and IOCs.
YARA, Sigma, Snort, and vendor rules, auto-deployed to your SIEM.
Cross-references every affected SKU, including bundled OEM variants.
Community discussion across Reddit, Mastodon, and other social sources.