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CVE Record

CVE-2023-40398: This issue was addressed with improved checks.

This issue was addressed with improved checks. This issue is fixed in macOS Monterey 12.6.4, macOS Big Sur 11.7.5, macOS Ventura 13.3, iOS 16.4 and iPadOS 16.4. A sandboxed process may be able to circumvent sandbox restrictions.

HighCVSS 8.8Not KEV-listedUpdated
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Glexia's TakeAutomated analysishigh

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

CVE-2023-40398 is an Apple sandbox escape issue. A sandboxed process could bypass restrictions meant to limit damage from a compromised or malicious app. Apple fixed it with improved checks in macOS, iOS, and iPadOS updates.

Executive priority

Treat this as a high-priority Apple fleet patching issue, especially for laptops and mobile devices exposed to third-party apps. No active exploitation is evidenced in the supplied sources, but the impact rating supports prompt remediation.

Technical view

The CVE describes local, low-complexity exploitation by a low-privileged sandboxed process with no user interaction. CVSS 3.1 is 8.8 with changed scope and high confidentiality, integrity, and availability impact. Apple’s public detail is limited to sandbox restriction circumvention and fixed OS versions.

Likely exposure

Exposure is likely on Apple endpoints running macOS Ventura before 13.3, Monterey before 12.6.4, Big Sur before 11.7.5, or iOS/iPadOS before 16.4. The bundle does not identify narrower vulnerable components or device models.

Exploitation context

The source bundle does not show CISA KEV listing or cited active exploitation. The attack requires local code execution from a sandboxed process, so business risk is highest where untrusted apps, mobile apps, or chained compromises are plausible.

Researcher notes

Public details are sparse: no CWE, root cause, proof of concept, affected component, or exploitation evidence is provided in the bundle. Analysis should stay anchored to Apple’s stated sandbox bypass impact and the fixed versions.

Mitigation direction

  • Upgrade macOS Ventura to 13.3 or later, Monterey to 12.6.4 or later, and Big Sur to 11.7.5 or later.
  • Upgrade iPhones and iPads to iOS 16.4 or iPadOS 16.4 or later.
  • Use MDM reporting to identify devices below the fixed Apple versions.
  • Review Apple security advisories for any later superseding updates or platform-specific guidance.

Validation and detection

  • Inventory Apple device OS versions across managed and unmanaged fleets.
  • Compare discovered versions against Apple’s fixed versions listed for this CVE.
  • Confirm MDM compliance policies require the fixed versions or later.
  • Check exception lists for devices unable to receive the named Apple updates.
Prepared
Confidence
medium
Sources
6

Public sources used

Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.

Potential ATT&CK relevance

Conservative CVE-to-ATT&CK context

These mappings and lookup hints may be relevant to the vulnerability behavior, CWE, affected product, or exposure path. Glexia-inferred context is not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, CWE, or CVE Program mapping.

ATT&CK lookup starting points

Use these exact CWE pages and searches to review the Glexia ATT&CK library from this CVE's weakness and description context.

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CVE-2023-40398 mapping review

Open the CVE-to-ATT&CK bridge for reviewed, inferred, or future official mappings tied to this CVE.

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Vulnerability profileCVE Program record
Severity
High
CVSS
8.8 (3.1)
Known Exploited
No
Published

Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H

Official CVE source material

CNA and ADP enrichment extracted from CVE v5

These fields come from the CVE record and ADP containers, not from Glexia's Take. They preserve time-varying source decisions such as CISA SSVC, KEV status, CVSS metrics, and provider references.

1CVSS vectors
0Timeline events
0ADP providers
5Source links

CVSS vector scores

1 official score

We collect every scored CVSS vector available in the official CNA and ADP containers. When more than one version is present, the table keeps the source vectors side by side instead of collapsing them into the highest score.

ScoreVersionSeverityVectorExploitImpactSource
8.8CVSS 3.1HighCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H26Primary CVE score

Vulnerability scoring details

Base CVSS 3.1 score

8.8High
CVSS 3.1 vector shape for CVE-2023-40398Attack VectorAttack ComplexityPrivileges RequiredUser InteractionScopeConfidentiality ImpactIntegrity ImpactAvailability Impact

Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H

Attack Vector
NetworkAdjacentLocalPhysical
Attack Complexity
LowHigh
Privileges Required
NoneLowHigh
User Interaction
NoneRequired
Scope
ChangedUnchanged
Confidentiality Impact
HighLowNone
Integrity Impact
HighLowNone
Availability Impact
HighLowNone

Source materials

Affected products

Products and packages named in the record

VendorProductVersion / packageStatus
ApplemacOSunspecifiedListed
AppleiOS and iPadOSunspecifiedListed
ApplemacOSunspecifiedListed
ApplemacOSunspecifiedListed
Weakness

CWE details

No CWE listed

CWE links open Glexia weakness intelligence pages with official CWE context, developer remediation guidance, and related CVE mappings.