Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
CVE-2023-42840 is an Apple macOS privacy issue where an app may access user-sensitive data. Apple says it fixed the issue with improved checks in macOS Sonoma 14.1, Ventura 13.6.1, and Monterey 12.7.1. The public record does not name the data type or affected component.
Executive priority
Handle in the normal endpoint security patch cycle, with higher priority for Macs used by executives, legal, finance, HR, or teams handling sensitive client data. Current evidence supports moderate urgency, not emergency response.
Technical view
The CVE is associated with CWE-922, insecure storage of sensitive information. The CVSS 3.1 score is 4.3, with low confidentiality impact and no listed integrity or availability impact. Apple’s advisory only states that improved checks resolved an app data-access issue.
Likely exposure
Exposure is most likely on managed or unmanaged Macs running macOS Sonoma before 14.1, Ventura before 13.6.1, or Monterey before 12.7.1. The source bundle lists macOS generally and does not identify specific hardware models or configurations.
Exploitation context
The bundle does not show CISA KEV listing or any cited source claiming active exploitation. Treat this as a privacy and compliance-relevant endpoint patching issue, not as a confirmed exploited vulnerability based on the provided evidence.
Researcher notes
Public detail is limited: no component, data class, proof of concept, or exploitation evidence is provided in the bundle. Validation should focus on version-based exposure and Apple advisory tracking rather than speculative exploit testing.
Mitigation direction
- Update macOS Sonoma systems to 14.1 or later.
- Update macOS Ventura systems to 13.6.1 or later.
- Update macOS Monterey systems to 12.7.1 or later.
- Check Apple guidance for any newer superseding security updates.
- Prioritize devices handling regulated or sensitive business data.
Validation and detection
- Inventory macOS versions across all managed Mac endpoints.
- Confirm installed versions meet or exceed Apple’s fixed releases.
- Review MDM compliance reports for update failures or deferrals.
- Document any unsupported or exception devices for risk acceptance.
- Monitor Apple advisories for additional detail or superseding fixes.
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-922: 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 lookupCVE-2023-42840 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
- Medium
- CVSS
- 4.3 (3.1)
- Known Exploited
- No
- Published
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:A/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:N/A:N
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.
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:A/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:N/A:N2.81.4Primary CVE scoreVulnerability scoring details
Base CVSS 3.1 score
4.3MediumVector: CVSS:3.1/AV:A/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:N/A:N
Source materials
- CVE List V5 sourceCVE List V5
- https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT213984CVE reference
- https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT213985CVE reference
- https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT213983CVE reference
- https://support.apple.com/kb/HT213985CVE reference
- https://support.apple.com/kb/HT213984CVE reference
- https://support.apple.com/kb/HT213983CVE reference
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.
Insecure Storage of Sensitive Information
Insecure Storage of Sensitive Information represents a recurring weakness pattern that can create exploitable paths when design, validation, or implementation controls are missing.