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Known exploited vulnerability · CISA KEV

CVE-2023-41990: Apple Multiple Products Code Execution Vulnerability

Apple iOS, iPadOS, macOS, tvOS, and watchOS contain an unspecified vulnerability that allows for code execution when processing a font file.

CVE-2023-41990

Exploited in the wild. Fix this first.

CISA added it to the Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog on 2024-01-08: attackers are using it right now.

CISA KEV
Listed
Added 2024-01-08 · federal fix-by 2024-01-29
EPSS (30 days)
1.4%
Higher than 72% of CVEs · 2026-11-01
CVSS v3.1
7.8 High
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

What CISA says

Apple Multiple Products Code Execution Vulnerability

Apply mitigations per vendor instructions or discontinue use of the product if mitigations are unavailable.

NVD description · published 2023-09-12

The issue was addressed with improved handling of caches. This issue is fixed in tvOS 16.3, iOS 16.3 and iPadOS 16.3, macOS Monterey 12.6.8, macOS Big Sur 11.7.9, iOS 15.7.8 and iPadOS 15.7.8, macOS Ventura 13.2, watchOS 9.3. Processing a font file may lead to arbitrary code execution. Apple is aware of a report that this issue may have been actively exploited against versions of iOS released before iOS 15.7.1.

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How to check if you are exposed to CVE-2023-41990

  1. Find every Apple Multiple Products system you or your clients run, including ones exposed to the internet. Those come first: CISA only lists flaws attackers are already using.
  2. Compare each version with the fixed versions in the vendor advisory below. Where no fix exists yet, apply the vendor’s mitigation or take the system off the internet.
  3. Run a credentialed vulnerability scan to catch the systems you missed, then check that the next scan no longer reports CVE-2023-41990.

US federal agencies had to fix this by 2024-01-29. Everyone else should treat that deadline as a guide: if it has passed, this is overdue.

Affected versions

Versions the National Vulnerability Database lists as vulnerable to CVE-2023-41990. Check the vendor advisory for the exact fixed builds before you sign anything off.

ProductVulnerable versions
Apple Ipadosbefore 15.7.8; from 16.0 before 16.3
Apple Iphone OSbefore 15.7.8; from 16.0 before 16.3
Apple Macosbefore 11.7.9; from 12.0.0 before 12.6.8; from 13.0 before 13.2
Apple Tvosbefore 16.3
Apple Watchosbefore 9.3

Timeline

  1. · Published in the National Vulnerability Database
  2. · Added to CISA's Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog, 118 days after it was published
  3. · Fix-by date for US federal agencies, passed 1,007 days ago

Vendor advisories and fixes

More exploited Apple vulnerabilities

CISA lists 95 exploited Apple vulnerabilities. The closest matches:

Keep going

Sources: CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog (version 2026.10.30); EPSS data from FIRST.org; CVSS and descriptions from the NIST National Vulnerability Database. Checked 2026-11-01. This product uses the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD.

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