CVE-2023-41061
CVE-2023-41061 is a security flaw in Apple iOS, iPadOS, and watchOS, the operating system on iPhones and iPads. Attackers can run their own code on Apple iOS, iPadOS, and watchOS. The US Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) added it to its catalog of flaws known to be used in attacks on 11 Sep 2023.[1]
Apple iOS, iPadOS, and watchOS 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 16.6, 9.6, 16.6.1 and 9.6.2.
Description
CISA calls it a wallet code execution in Apple iOS, iPadOS, and watchOS. In its words: “Apple iOS, iPadOS, and watchOS contain an unspecified vulnerability due to a validation issue affecting Wallet in which a maliciously crafted attachment may result in code execution. This vulnerability was chained with CVE-2023-41064.”[1]
The underlying weakness is improper input validation (CWE-20), in MITRE’s list of common software weaknesses.[2]
It scores 7.8 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 |
|---|---|
| iOS and iPadOS | 16.6 |
| watchOS | 9.6 |
| ipados | 16.6.1 |
| iphone_os | 16.6.1 |
| watchos | 9.6.2 |
Every device with Apple iOS, iPadOS, and watchOS needs the update.
Exploitation
CISA added it to its catalog of known exploited vulnerabilities on 11 Sep 2023, 4 days after it was made public. CISA lists a flaw only when it has reliable evidence of it being exploited, and gave US federal agencies until 2 Oct 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 4%. That’s in the top 9% 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 mitigations per vendor instructions or discontinue use of the product if mitigations are unavailable.”[1]
- Update Apple iOS, iPadOS, and watchOS 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 16.6 or later.Fixed in version 16.6, 9.6, 16.6.1 and 9.6.2. 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 |
|---|---|
| The flaw is made public in the National Vulnerability Database, with a severity score of 7.8.[2] | |
| 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] | |
| FIRST puts the odds of it being used in attacks in the next 30 days at 4%.[4] |
See also
Other Apple iOS, iPadOS, and watchOS flaws
- CVE-2021-1879: webKit cross-site scripting (XSS) ·
- CVE-2020-9819: memory corruption ·
- CVE-2020-9818: out-of-bounds write ·
Other Apple flaws
- CVE-2026-86950, Apple devices: out-of-bounds write ·
- CVE-2026-65400, Apple macOS: improper authentication ·
- CVE-2025-43520, Apple devices: classic buffer overflow ·
- CVE-2025-43510, Apple devices: improper locking ·
- CVE-2025-31277, Apple devices: buffer overflow ·
Other improper input validation flaws
- CVE-2026-93952, Arista VeloCloud Orchestrator: improper input validation ·
- CVE-2019-1068, Microsoft SQL Server: remote code execution ·
- CVE-2026-12569, PTC Windchill and FlexPLM: improper input validation ·
- CVE-2026-34910, Ubiquiti UniFi OS: improper input validation ·
- CVE-2026-6973, Ivanti Endpoint Manager Mobile (EPMM): improper input validation ·
Added the same day
- CVE-2023-41064, Apple iOS, iPadOS, and macOS: imageIO buffer overflow ·
Every Apple flaw on CISA’s list · Everything added in September 2023
References
- ^ Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. “Apple iOS, iPadOS, and watchOS Wallet Code Execution Vulnerability”. Known Exploited Vulnerabilities Catalog, added 11 Sep 2023.
- ^ National Institute of Standards and Technology. “CVE-2023-41061 Detail”. National Vulnerability Database, published 7 Sep 2023.
- ^ Apple. Advisories and fixes: support.apple.com, support.apple.com, support.apple.com, support.apple.com.
- ^ FIRST. “Exploit Prediction Scoring System”. EPSS 0.044, percentile 91.3, 31 Oct 2026.
- CVE Program. “CVE-2023-41061”. 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.