Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
CVE-2023-42859 is an Apple macOS access-control flaw. Apple states that an app may be able to modify protected parts of the file system. That makes it important for managed Mac fleets because protected system areas are security boundaries.
Executive priority
Treat as a high-priority Mac fleet patching item. It is not documented as actively exploited in the provided evidence, but the potential to modify protected file-system areas creates meaningful integrity risk.
Technical view
The CVE is mapped to CWE-284 and scored CVSS 7.7. The vector is local, low complexity, no privileges, and no user interaction, with high confidentiality and integrity impact. Apple fixed it with improved checks in macOS Sonoma 14.1, Ventura 13.6.1, and Monterey 12.7.1.
Likely exposure
Exposure is limited to Apple macOS systems below the fixed releases listed by Apple. The source bundle does not identify exact vulnerable build ranges beyond macOS Sonoma, Ventura, and Monterey update lines.
Exploitation context
The provided sources do not report active exploitation, and CISA KEV status is false. The attack surface is local: an app on the Mac may be able to alter protected file-system locations.
Researcher notes
Evidence is sparse: Apple’s advisory gives impact and fixed versions but not vulnerable build ranges, component internals, or exploitation details. Validation should focus on version exposure and defensive telemetry, not exploit reproduction.
Mitigation direction
- Upgrade macOS Sonoma systems to 14.1 or later.
- Upgrade macOS Ventura systems to 13.6.1 or later.
- Upgrade macOS Monterey systems to 12.7.1 or later.
- Check Apple guidance for any environment-specific instructions.
- Limit untrusted app execution on unpatched Macs until updated.
Validation and detection
- Inventory macOS versions across managed endpoints.
- Confirm each Mac is at or above the relevant fixed release.
- Verify update compliance through MDM or endpoint management records.
- Review security tooling for unexpected protected file-system modifications.
- Track exceptions for Macs that cannot be updated promptly.
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-284: Authorization and privilege behavior lookup
Authorization weaknesses can support privilege escalation and valid-account review, depending on exploit path. 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-2023-42859 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
- 7.7 (3.1)
- Known Exploited
- No
- Published
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/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:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N2.55.2Primary CVE scoreVulnerability scoring details
Base CVSS 3.1 score
7.7HighVector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/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.
Improper Access Control
Improper Access Control represents a recurring weakness pattern that can create exploitable paths when design, validation, or implementation controls are missing.