Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
CVE-2023-42942 is an Apple local privilege escalation issue. A malicious app may gain root privileges on affected iOS, iPadOS, macOS, tvOS, and watchOS devices. Business urgency is high where unmanaged apps can run or devices lag behind Apple security updates.
Executive priority
Treat as a high-priority patching item, especially for fleets with BYOD, unmanaged software, or delayed Apple updates. The main business risk is full local device compromise after a malicious app runs.
Technical view
Apple describes a symlink-handling flaw, mapped to CWE-59, fixed through improved handling. CVSS 3.1 is 7.8: local access, low complexity, low privileges, no user interaction, with high confidentiality, integrity, and availability impact.
Likely exposure
Exposure is most likely on Apple devices running versions older than iOS/iPadOS 16.7.2 or 17.1, macOS Sonoma 14.1, macOS Ventura 13.6.1, tvOS 17.1, or watchOS 10.1. The source bundle does not identify exact vulnerable build ranges.
Exploitation context
The sources state a malicious app may gain root privileges. KEV is false, and the provided sources do not claim active exploitation, public exploit availability, or exploitation in the wild.
Researcher notes
Public detail is sparse. Apple identifies symlink handling and root privilege impact but does not provide exploit mechanics, affected build ranges, or non-update mitigations in the supplied sources.
Mitigation direction
- Update Apple devices to the fixed OS releases or later.
- Prioritize managed endpoints where local apps can be installed.
- Check Apple advisories for platform-specific update guidance.
- Restrict untrusted app installation while patch rollout completes.
- Track exceptions for devices unable to receive current updates.
Validation and detection
- Inventory Apple device OS versions across MDM and endpoint tools.
- Confirm iOS/iPadOS, macOS, tvOS, and watchOS meet fixed-version thresholds.
- Verify high-risk devices are patched before lower-risk consumer-style endpoints.
- Review endpoint controls for unauthorized or unmanaged app installation.
- Document devices that cannot be updated and apply compensating controls.
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-59: 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-2023-42942 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
- No
- Published
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/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.
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:L/UI:N/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:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Source materials
- CVE List V5 sourceCVE List V5
- https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT213981CVE reference
- https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT213987CVE reference
- https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT213984CVE reference
- https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT213988CVE reference
- https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT213985CVE reference
- https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT213982CVE reference
- https://support.apple.com/kb/HT213988CVE reference
- https://support.apple.com/kb/HT213984CVE reference
- https://support.apple.com/kb/HT213982CVE 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 Link Resolution Before File Access ('Link Following')
Improper Link Resolution Before File Access ('Link Following') represents a recurring weakness pattern that can create exploitable paths when design, validation, or implementation controls are missing.