CVE-2023-42929: Apple macOS Information Disclosure Flaw

CVE-2023-42929 Overview

CVE-2023-42929 is a vulnerability in Apple macOS that allows applications to access protected user data due to insufficient validation checks. The vulnerability exists in macOS versions prior to Sonoma 14, where an improper checks implementation could allow a malicious application to bypass security controls and gain unauthorized access to sensitive user information.

Critical Impact

A malicious application could exploit this vulnerability to access protected user data, potentially leading to unauthorized disclosure of sensitive personal information stored on the affected macOS system.

Affected Products

• Apple macOS versions prior to Sonoma 14
• macOS systems without the security update from HT213940

Discovery Timeline

• 2024-01-10 - CVE-2023-42929 published to NVD
• 2025-11-04 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2023-42929

Vulnerability Analysis

This vulnerability stems from inadequate validation checks within macOS that govern application access to protected user data. On macOS, Apple implements various privacy protections through Transparency, Consent, and Control (TCC) mechanisms that require user consent before applications can access sensitive data such as photos, contacts, calendars, and location information.

The flaw allows a locally installed application to circumvent these protective mechanisms, enabling unauthorized access to user data that should otherwise be restricted. This represents a significant privacy concern as it undermines the fundamental data protection controls built into the operating system.

The attack requires local access and user interaction to execute, meaning an attacker would need to convince a user to install and run a malicious application. Once executed, the application can access protected data without triggering the expected consent prompts or access notifications.

Root Cause

The root cause of CVE-2023-42929 lies in improper validation checks within macOS data protection mechanisms. The insufficient checks failed to properly verify application entitlements and permissions before granting access to protected user data resources. This allowed applications to access sensitive information without proper authorization verification.

Attack Vector

The attack vector for this vulnerability is local, requiring an attacker to have the ability to execute a malicious application on the target macOS system. The exploitation scenario typically involves:

1. An attacker creates a malicious application designed to exploit the validation weakness
2. The victim is tricked into downloading and running the malicious application
3. The application exploits the improper checks to access protected user data
4. Sensitive user information is exfiltrated without proper consent mechanisms being triggered

The vulnerability does not require elevated privileges to exploit, making it accessible to unprivileged applications running in user context. User interaction is required to initiate the attack by launching the malicious application.

Detection Methods for CVE-2023-42929

Indicators of Compromise

• Unusual application access to protected data directories such as ~/Library/Application Support, ~/Pictures, ~/Documents, or ~/Contacts
• Unexpected TCC database modifications or queries from unauthorized processes
• Applications accessing sensitive data without corresponding TCC permission prompts
• Suspicious outbound network connections following protected data access attempts

Detection Strategies

• Monitor for applications accessing protected user data locations without corresponding TCC database entries granting permission
• Implement endpoint detection rules to identify processes accessing sensitive file paths without proper entitlements
• Review system logs for TCC-related events and correlate with application behavior
• Deploy behavioral analysis to detect applications exhibiting data harvesting patterns

Monitoring Recommendations

• Enable enhanced logging for TCC events and user data access attempts
• Monitor the TCC database located at ~/Library/Application Support/com.apple.TCC/TCC.db for unauthorized modifications
• Implement file integrity monitoring on protected user data directories
• Review application permissions regularly through System Preferences > Security & Privacy

How to Mitigate CVE-2023-42929

Immediate Actions Required

• Update macOS to Sonoma 14 or later immediately to receive the security patch
• Review installed applications and remove any untrusted or suspicious software
• Audit TCC permissions and revoke unnecessary data access grants for applications
• Implement application allowlisting to prevent unauthorized software execution

Patch Information

Apple has addressed this vulnerability in macOS Sonoma 14. The fix implements improved validation checks to properly verify application permissions before granting access to protected user data. Organizations and users should apply this update immediately.

For detailed patch information, refer to the Apple Security Advisory HT213940.

Workarounds

• Restrict installation of applications to those obtained from the Mac App Store or identified developers
• Enable Gatekeeper to its strictest setting to prevent execution of unsigned applications
• Review and audit TCC permissions regularly via System Preferences > Security & Privacy > Privacy
• Consider implementing Mobile Device Management (MDM) policies to control application installation on enterprise systems

# Check current macOS version
sw_vers -productVersion

# Verify if system is updated to macOS Sonoma 14 or later
# Expected output should be 14.0 or higher

# Review TCC database for suspicious entries (requires Full Disk Access)
sqlite3 ~/Library/Application\ Support/com.apple.TCC/TCC.db "SELECT client, service FROM access;"

# Check for available software updates
softwareupdate --list