CVE-2023-32409
CVE-2023-32409 is a security flaw in Apple devices, the software on Apple’s iPhones, iPads and Macs. Attackers can get past a security protection in Apple devices. The US Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) added it to its catalog of flaws known to be used in attacks on 22 May 2023.[1]
Apple devices is in things households have, such as phones, computers, browsers and everyday apps, so the fix matters at home as much as at work. Fixed in version 13.4, 16.5, 9.5 and 15.7.
Description
CISA calls it a webKit sandbox escape in Apple Multiple Products. In its words: “Apple iOS, iPadOS, macOS, tvOS, watchOS, and Safari WebKit contain an unspecified vulnerability that can allow a remote attacker to break out of the Web Content sandbox. This vulnerability could impact HTML parsers that use WebKit, including but not limited to Apple Safari and non-Apple products which rely on WebKit for HTML processing.”[1]
It scores 8.6 out of 10 on the Common Vulnerability Scoring System, which rates it high, scored by NVD using CVSS 3.1.[2]
Affected versions
NVD’s record lists these fixed versions: in each line, everything before the version shown is affected.[2]
| Product | Fixed in |
|---|---|
| macOS | 13.4 |
| Safari | 16.5 |
| watchOS | 9.5 |
| iOS and iPadOS | 15.7 |
| iOS and iPadOS | 16.5 |
| tvOS | 16.5 |
Every device with Apple devices needs the update.
Exploitation
CISA added it to its catalog of known exploited vulnerabilities on 22 May 2023. CISA lists a flaw only when it has reliable evidence of it being exploited, and gave US federal agencies until 12 Jun 2023 to fix it.[1]
FIRST’s Exploit Prediction Scoring System, which estimates how likely a flaw is to be used in attacks in the next 30 days from what it sees across the internet, puts it at 17%. That’s in the top 3% of the flaws it scores.[4]
CISA assesses it as automatable: attackers can run it against many targets at once.
CISA doesn’t say who was attacked, or how.
Fix
Apple has published a fix or advice.[3] CISA’s required action: “Apply updates per vendor instructions.”[1]
- Update Apple devices now.On iPhone and iPad: Settings, General, Software Update. On a Mac: System Settings, General, Software Update. Install it on every Apple device in the house. Then turn on automatic updates, so the next fix arrives on its own.
- Check you’re on 13.4 or later.Fixed in version 13.4, 16.5, 9.5 and 15.7. Anything older is what attackers are going after.
- If there’s no update, stop using it.CISA’s advice when a flaw being used in attacks has no fix is to stop using the product until it does.
Timeline
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| CISA adds it to its catalog of flaws known to be used in attacks.[1] | |
| CISA’s deadline for US government agencies to fix it.[1] | |
| The flaw is made public in the National Vulnerability Database, with a severity score of 8.6.[2] | |
| FIRST puts the odds of it being used in attacks in the next 30 days at 17%.[4] |
See also
Other Apple devices flaws
- CVE-2026-86950: out-of-bounds write ·
- CVE-2025-43520: classic buffer overflow ·
- CVE-2025-43510: improper locking ·
- CVE-2025-31277: buffer overflow ·
- CVE-2023-43000: use-after-free ·
- CVE-2021-30952: integer overflow or wraparound ·
Similar flaws
- CVE-2026-102764, BeyondTrust Remote Support: authentication bypass by spoofing ·
- CVE-2025-61624, Fortinet products: path traversal ·
- CVE-2026-105133, AhsayCBS: improper authentication ·
- CVE-2015-3306, ProFTPD: improper access control ·
- CVE-2026-104286, Fortinet FortiMail: path traversal ·
Added the same day
- CVE-2023-32373, Apple devices: webKit use-after-free ·
- CVE-2023-28204, Apple devices: webKit out-of-bounds read ·
Every Apple flaw on CISA’s list · Everything added in May 2023
References
- ^ Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. “Apple Multiple Products WebKit Sandbox Escape Vulnerability”. Known Exploited Vulnerabilities Catalog, added 22 May 2023.
- ^ National Institute of Standards and Technology. “CVE-2023-32409 Detail”. National Vulnerability Database, published 23 Jun 2023.
- ^ Apple. Advisories and fixes: support.apple.com, support.apple.com, support.apple.com, support.apple.com, support.apple.com, and 3 more on NVD’s record.
- ^ FIRST. “Exploit Prediction Scoring System”. EPSS 0.165, percentile 97.0, 31 Oct 2026.
- CVE Program. “CVE-2023-32409”. The official CVE record.
This article is built from CISA’s catalog (version 2026.10.30), NVD’s record and FIRST’s scores, kept in HARD’s database and checked every morning. The plain English is HARD’s.