Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
This Apple iOS/iPadOS flaw can let an app run code with kernel privileges, giving it very deep control over a device. Apple fixed it in listed iOS and iPadOS releases. CISA lists it in KEV, so exploitation is confirmed by a cited government source.
Executive priority
Treat this as urgent for Apple mobile fleets because exploitation is confirmed and successful compromise reaches kernel privileges. Patch or remove outdated devices from sensitive access paths quickly, especially for high-value users.
Technical view
CVE-2023-41974 is a CWE-416 use-after-free memory management issue in Apple iOS and iPadOS. The reported impact is arbitrary code execution with kernel privileges. CVSS 3.1 is 7.8 with local attack vector, low complexity, no privileges required, and user interaction required.
Likely exposure
Exposure is likely limited to Apple iOS and iPadOS devices running versions older than the fixed releases cited by Apple. The bundle does not provide exact affected version ranges beyond iOS/iPadOS unspecified and the fixed versions.
Exploitation context
CISA KEV confirms known exploitation. Google Threat Intelligence is cited for CORUNa, a powerful iOS exploit kit, but this analysis does not infer details beyond that cited association. No exploit steps are provided here.
Researcher notes
Key gaps remain: the bundle does not name the vulnerable component, exact affected version ranges, or exploit prerequisites beyond local vector and user interaction. Validate exposure through OS version state and vendor advisories, not product assumptions.
Mitigation direction
- Update eligible devices to iOS 17 or iPadOS 17, or later fixed releases.
- Update legacy eligible devices to iOS 15.8.7 or iPadOS 15.8.7.
- Check Apple advisories for device-specific applicability and newer supported versions.
- Prioritize managed devices used by executives, administrators, and high-risk staff.
- Restrict sensitive access from devices that cannot receive Apple fixes.
Validation and detection
- Inventory iOS and iPadOS versions across managed and BYOD devices.
- Confirm devices are on Apple-fixed versions or later.
- Use MDM compliance reporting to identify outdated devices.
- Review CISA KEV status for prioritization evidence.
- Check Apple support pages for current update applicability.
Public sources used
Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.
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.
CWE-416: Exact CWE lookup
Use the exact CWE identifier as the starting point before reviewing related ATT&CK behavior. Open the exact CWE lookup page first, then review the ATT&CK searches from that MITRE weakness context. This is a Glexia lookup hint, not an official ATT&CK mapping.
Open ATT&CK lookupExecution behavior lookup
The CVE wording references code or command execution, so execution technique review may help defensive triage. This is a Glexia inferred lookup path, not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, or CVE Program mapping.
Open ATT&CK lookupCVE-2023-41974 mapping review
Open the CVE-to-ATT&CK bridge for reviewed, inferred, or future official mappings tied to this CVE.
Open ATT&CK lookup- Severity
- High
- CVSS
- 7.8 (3.1)
- Known Exploited
- Yes
- Published
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
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.
CISA KEV status
CVSS vector scores
1 official scoreWe 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.
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H1.85.9Primary CVE scoreVulnerability scoring details
Base CVSS 3.1 score
7.8HighVector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Source materials
- CVE List V5 sourceCVE List V5
- https://support.apple.com/en-us/120949CVE reference
- https://support.apple.com/en-us/126632CVE reference
- https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT213938CVE reference · x_transferred
- https://support.apple.com/kb/HT213938CVE reference
- https://cloud.google.com/blog/topics/threat-intelligence/coruna-powerful-ios-exploit-kitCVE reference · third-party-advisory
- https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2023-41974CVE reference · government-resource
Products and packages named in the record
CWE details
CWE links open Glexia weakness intelligence pages with official CWE context, developer remediation guidance, and related CVE mappings.
Use After Free
Use After Free represents a recurring weakness pattern that can create exploitable paths when design, validation, or implementation controls are missing.