CVE-2023-38590 Overview
CVE-2023-38590 is a buffer overflow vulnerability affecting multiple Apple operating systems, including iOS, iPadOS, macOS, tvOS, and watchOS. The flaw allows a remote attacker to cause unexpected system termination or corrupt kernel memory when a victim interacts with malicious content. Apple addressed the issue with improved memory handling across watchOS 9.6, macOS Big Sur 11.7.9, iOS 15.7.8, iPadOS 15.7.8, macOS Monterey 12.6.8, tvOS 16.6, iOS 16.6, iPadOS 16.6, and macOS Ventura 13.5. The vulnerability is classified under [CWE-120] (Buffer Copy without Checking Size of Input).
Critical Impact
A remote attacker can corrupt kernel memory or trigger system termination on unpatched Apple devices, potentially leading to denial of service or kernel-level compromise.
Affected Products
- Apple iOS and iPadOS (versions prior to 15.7.8 and 16.6)
- Apple macOS Big Sur, Monterey, and Ventura (prior to 11.7.9, 12.6.8, and 13.5)
- Apple tvOS prior to 16.6 and watchOS prior to 9.6
Discovery Timeline
- 2023-07-28 - CVE-2023-38590 published to NVD
- 2024-11-21 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2023-38590
Vulnerability Analysis
The vulnerability is a buffer overflow condition triggered through remote content processing on Apple platforms. An attacker can craft input that exceeds the bounds of an internal memory buffer, leading to memory corruption within the kernel. Successful exploitation can result in unexpected system termination or corruption of kernel memory structures. Because the affected code path runs at kernel privilege, memory corruption here carries higher impact than equivalent flaws in userland components.
The vulnerability requires user interaction, meaning the victim must open, view, or otherwise process attacker-controlled content. Network reachability is sufficient as the attack vector, with no authentication required from the target.
Root Cause
The root cause is improper validation of input size before copying data into a fixed-size kernel buffer. Apple's advisories indicate the fix introduces improved memory handling, consistent with adding bounds checks or replacing unsafe copy operations with size-aware equivalents. The flaw aligns with [CWE-120], where a copy operation does not verify that the destination buffer can hold the source data.
Attack Vector
Exploitation begins with an attacker delivering crafted content over the network to a vulnerable Apple device. After the victim processes the content, the oversized input flows into the affected kernel pathway. The overflow then corrupts adjacent kernel memory, producing either a kernel panic or controlled corruption suitable for further escalation. No specific public proof-of-concept code is referenced in the advisory data for this CVE.
Detection Methods for CVE-2023-38590
Indicators of Compromise
- Unexpected kernel panics or system restarts on Apple endpoints, particularly correlated with receipt of untrusted network content.
- Crash reports in /Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/ referencing kernel modules following exposure to external content.
- Devices running affected OS versions that have not been updated to the fixed builds listed in Apple's HT213841–HT213848 advisories.
Detection Strategies
- Inventory Apple endpoints and compare installed OS versions against the patched releases to surface vulnerable systems.
- Collect and centralize crash logs and kernel panic reports for correlation against known-bad indicators or behavioral anomalies.
- Monitor for repeated abnormal reboots clustered around specific network events or content delivery.
Monitoring Recommendations
- Forward macOS unified logs and iOS device telemetry to a centralized analytics platform for longitudinal review.
- Track patch compliance through mobile device management (MDM) reporting and alert on devices that drift below the fixed versions.
- Watch for unusual outbound network connections immediately preceding kernel instability, which may indicate exploitation attempts.
How to Mitigate CVE-2023-38590
Immediate Actions Required
- Update all Apple devices to the fixed OS versions: watchOS 9.6, macOS Big Sur 11.7.9, iOS 15.7.8, iPadOS 15.7.8, macOS Monterey 12.6.8, tvOS 16.6, iOS 16.6, iPadOS 16.6, or macOS Ventura 13.5.
- Enforce automatic updates through MDM to reduce the window of exposure on managed fleets.
- Audit endpoint inventory to identify devices still running unsupported or unpatched builds.
Patch Information
Apple released patches addressing this issue through coordinated advisories. Refer to the official guidance for each affected platform: Apple Support Document HT213841, HT213842, HT213843, HT213844, HT213845, HT213846, and HT213848.
Workarounds
- No vendor-supplied workaround is documented; patching is the authoritative remediation.
- Limit exposure to untrusted network content and restrict device participation on untrusted networks until updates are applied.
- Apply network segmentation and content filtering to reduce delivery paths for attacker-controlled payloads.
# Verify macOS version against the fixed builds
sw_vers -productVersion
# Trigger software update check on macOS
sudo softwareupdate -l
sudo softwareupdate -ia --restart
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
