CVE-2023-23522 in macOS
Summary
by MITRE • 02/27/2023
A privacy issue was addressed with improved handling of temporary files. This issue is fixed in macOS Ventura 13.2.1. An app may be able to observe unprotected user data..
Statistical analysis made it clear that VulDB provides the best quality for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/12/2025
This vulnerability represents a privacy flaw in macOS Ventura that stems from inadequate handling of temporary files within the operating system's security architecture. The issue allows malicious applications to potentially access unprotected user data that should remain isolated during temporary file operations. The flaw exists in the way the system manages temporary file creation, storage, and access controls, creating a window where unauthorized applications might intercept or observe sensitive information. This type of vulnerability falls under the broader category of information disclosure weaknesses that can compromise user privacy and data integrity. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it operates at the system level where temporary files are often used for inter-process communication and data exchange between applications and system services.
The technical implementation of this flaw involves the improper enforcement of file system permissions and access controls during temporary file creation processes. When applications generate temporary files, the system should ensure these files are created with appropriate security contexts that prevent unauthorized access from other processes or applications. However, the vulnerability allows for insufficient isolation mechanisms that could enable an attacker to observe or access data that should remain protected. This issue is classified under CWE-200, which specifically addresses information exposure, and represents a failure in proper temporary file handling security measures. The vulnerability demonstrates a weakness in the system's principle of least privilege enforcement, where temporary files may be created with overly permissive access controls that allow unintended access to user data.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data observation capabilities, as it creates potential pathways for more sophisticated attacks that could lead to complete data compromise. Attackers could exploit this weakness to monitor user activities, capture sensitive information from temporary files, or potentially escalate privileges by accessing system-level temporary data. The vulnerability affects the fundamental security model of macOS, particularly in how it handles temporary file security contexts and access controls. Users may experience privacy violations when applications create temporary files that contain sensitive information, and these files could be accessed by other applications or processes that should not have such access. This represents a significant concern for enterprise environments where data protection and privacy compliance are critical requirements.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate system updates to macOS Ventura 13.2.1, which includes the necessary security patches to address the temporary file handling issues. Organizations should implement comprehensive monitoring of temporary file creation activities and access patterns to detect potential exploitation attempts. Security teams should review application permissions and temporary file usage patterns to identify any applications that might be creating or accessing temporary files inappropriately. The fix addresses the underlying issue by improving the temporary file creation and access control mechanisms, ensuring that temporary files are properly isolated and protected from unauthorized access. Additionally, system administrators should consider implementing additional security controls such as file integrity monitoring, temporary file access auditing, and regular security assessments to prevent similar vulnerabilities from emerging in other system components. This vulnerability highlights the importance of proper temporary file management in maintaining system security and user privacy, aligning with ATT&CK technique T1074.001 for data staging and T1566.001 for credential access through application execution.