Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
This macOS issue could let a local app alter protected filesystem areas. That can affect confidentiality and integrity on an endpoint. Apple fixed it with additional restrictions in macOS Sonoma 14.1, Ventura 13.6.1, and Monterey 12.7.1.
Executive priority
Treat as a high-priority endpoint patching issue. It is not listed as actively exploited in the supplied evidence, but the impact to protected system areas makes delayed macOS updates risky on user workstations.
Technical view
CVE-2023-42860 is a macOS permissions issue categorized as CWE-863. The CVSS vector indicates local attack surface, low complexity, no privileges, and no user interaction, with high confidentiality and integrity impact. Apple states the fix adds additional restrictions.
Likely exposure
Mac fleets with devices below macOS Sonoma 14.1, Ventura 13.6.1, or Monterey 12.7.1 may be exposed. The supplied sources do not define exact vulnerable build ranges beyond the fixed releases.
Exploitation context
The supplied bundle does not show CISA KEV listing or cited evidence of active exploitation. The risk is local endpoint compromise through an app capable of abusing insufficient permissions, not a network-reachable service issue.
Researcher notes
Evidence is limited to Apple and CVE metadata. No exploit details, indicators, or vulnerable version boundaries are provided. Focus validation on OS build exposure, patch deployment status, and whether local application execution is tightly governed.
Mitigation direction
- Update macOS Sonoma devices to 14.1 or later.
- Update macOS Ventura devices to 13.6.1 or later.
- Update macOS Monterey devices to 12.7.1 or later.
- Review Apple advisories for newer platform-specific guidance.
- Prioritize Macs allowing unmanaged or untrusted app installation.
Validation and detection
- Inventory managed and unmanaged macOS versions across the fleet.
- Confirm devices report fixed macOS versions or later.
- Check MDM compliance policies for minimum supported macOS versions.
- Review exception lists for Macs deferred from security updates.
- Validate endpoint controls restrict untrusted app execution where practical.
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-863: 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-2023-42860 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.
Incorrect Authorization
Incorrect Authorization represents a recurring weakness pattern that can create exploitable paths when design, validation, or implementation controls are missing.