CVE-2023-38606
Apple Multiple Products Kernel Unspecified Vulnerability
- Medium 5.5
- Exploited: added to CISA KEV 26 Jul 2023
Description
This issue was addressed with improved state management. This issue is fixed in macOS Monterey 12.6.8, iOS 15.7.8 and iPadOS 15.7.8, iOS 16.6 and iPadOS 16.6, tvOS 16.6, macOS Big Sur 11.7.9, macOS Ventura 13.5, watchOS 9.6. An app may be able to modify sensitive kernel state. Apple is aware of a report that this issue may have been actively exploited against versions of iOS released before iOS 15.7.1.
Key facts
- Published
- 26 Jul 2023
- Last changed
- 30 Oct 2025
- Assigned by
- apple
- KEV added
- 26 Jul 2023
- KEV fix due
- 16 Aug 2023
- EPSS
- 2.899% likely to be exploited in the next 30 days, higher than 87.166% of CVEs (scores for 15 Nov 2026)
- SSVC (CISA)
- Exploitation: active; Automatable: no; Technical impact: partial
Severity scores
Each score is shown as its source gave it. They are not averaged or merged.
- 5.5CVSS 3.1, Mediumfrom CISA (ADP container)
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:N
What to do
- Apply mitigations per vendor instructions or discontinue use of the product if mitigations are unavailable.CISA KEV required action
Historical context and remediation
This reference retains the original CVE publication date. A recent record update does not mean a new attack occurred.
No separately sourced impact summary is available on this page yet. Consult the description, version data and dated exploitation evidence.
Version statuses below come from the CNA. An “unaffected” version is not necessarily a currently supported release or proof of a patch date. EPSS is a dated risk estimate, not a count of historical attacks.
Affected products
| Vendor | Product | Versions |
|---|---|---|
| Apple | tvOS |
|
| Apple | iOS and iPadOS |
|
| Apple | macOS |
|
| Apple | iOS and iPadOS |
|
| Apple | macOS |
|
| Apple | macOS |
|
| Apple | watchOS |
|
Timeline
- 26 Jul 2023 Added to the CISA KEV catalogue
- 26 Jul 2023 Published