CVE-2023-28201 in Safari
Summary
by MITRE • 05/08/2023
This issue was addressed with improved state management. This issue is fixed in macOS Ventura 13.3, iOS 15.7.4 and iPadOS 15.7.4, Safari 16.4, iOS 16.4 and iPadOS 16.4. A remote user may be able to cause unexpected app termination or arbitrary code execution
If you want to get best quality of vulnerability data, you may have to visit VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/03/2025
This vulnerability represents a critical state management flaw that could potentially allow remote attackers to execute arbitrary code or cause unexpected application termination. The issue was identified within Apple's operating system frameworks and browser components, specifically affecting systems that did not have the latest security patches applied. The vulnerability stems from inadequate handling of application states during processing, creating potential attack vectors for malicious actors who could exploit these conditions to compromise system integrity.
The technical implementation of this flaw involves improper state transitions within Apple's system libraries that govern how applications process data and manage their operational contexts. When applications encounter certain input conditions or processing scenarios, the flawed state management can lead to memory corruption or execution flow disruption. This type of vulnerability aligns with CWE-691, which addresses insufficient control flow management, and represents a classic example of how state management deficiencies can create exploitable conditions. The flaw demonstrates how seemingly minor issues in system architecture can have severe security implications when combined with remote execution capabilities.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple application crashes, as it provides attackers with potential pathways for arbitrary code execution on targeted systems. Remote users could leverage this weakness to gain unauthorized access to affected devices, potentially leading to complete system compromise. The vulnerability affects multiple platforms including macOS, iOS, and iPadOS across several versions, indicating a widespread issue within Apple's ecosystem. Attackers could exploit this through various means including malicious web content, crafted files, or network-based attacks that trigger the vulnerable state management routines. This vulnerability particularly affects users who have not updated to the patched versions, as the remediation addresses the root cause through enhanced state validation and control flow mechanisms.
Mitigation strategies should prioritize immediate deployment of the available patches for all affected platforms including macOS Ventura 13.3, iOS 15.7.4 and iPadOS 15.7.4, Safari 16.4, iOS 16.4 and iPadOS 16.4. Organizations should implement comprehensive monitoring for potential exploitation attempts and establish robust patch management procedures to ensure all systems receive timely updates. The fix employs enhanced state validation mechanisms that prevent improper state transitions and include additional safeguards against memory corruption conditions. Security teams should also consider implementing network-based controls to block potentially malicious content and establish incident response procedures specifically addressing remote code execution vulnerabilities. This vulnerability demonstrates the importance of maintaining current security patches and highlights the need for continuous security monitoring across all platform components to prevent exploitation of state management flaws that could lead to complete system compromise.