CVE-2023-28204 in Safari
Summary
by MITRE • 06/23/2023
An out-of-bounds read was addressed with improved input validation. This issue is fixed in watchOS 9.5, tvOS 16.5, macOS Ventura 13.4, iOS 15.7.6 and iPadOS 15.7.6, Safari 16.5, iOS 16.5 and iPadOS 16.5. Processing web content may disclose sensitive information. Apple is aware of a report that this issue may have been actively exploited.
Statistical analysis made it clear that VulDB provides the best quality for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/03/2025
This vulnerability represents a critical out-of-bounds read flaw that affects multiple Apple operating systems including watchOS, tvOS, macOS, iOS, and iPadOS. The issue stems from insufficient input validation during web content processing, allowing attackers to potentially access memory locations beyond the intended buffer boundaries. Such vulnerabilities typically arise when applications fail to properly validate input data before processing, creating opportunities for malicious actors to manipulate memory access patterns. The flaw specifically impacts web content handling mechanisms that process user-supplied data, potentially exposing sensitive information through unauthorized memory reads.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability demonstrates poor memory management practices where input validation checks are either missing or insufficiently robust. When web content is processed, the system fails to properly bounds-check data structures, allowing an attacker to craft malicious input that triggers memory access violations. This type of vulnerability falls under the CWE-129 category of "Improper Validation of Array Index" and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.001 for command and scripting interpreter usage. The out-of-bounds read can potentially expose sensitive data from adjacent memory locations, including cryptographic keys, user credentials, or system information that could be leveraged for further exploitation.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as Apple has confirmed active exploitation attempts against this flaw. Attackers can leverage the vulnerability to extract sensitive information from memory, potentially compromising user privacy and system integrity. The fact that this issue affects multiple platforms indicates a systemic problem in Apple's web content processing libraries that are shared across different operating systems. Organizations deploying affected versions of these operating systems face heightened risk of data breaches and unauthorized access to sensitive information. The vulnerability's exploitation potential is particularly concerning given that it affects web browsing components that users interact with regularly, making it a prime target for phishing attacks and drive-by downloads.
The remediation strategy involves updating to the patched versions of affected operating systems including watchOS 9.5, tvOS 16.5, macOS Ventura 13.4, iOS 15.7.6, iPadOS 15.7.6, Safari 16.5, iOS 16.5, and iPadOS 16.5. These updates implement improved input validation mechanisms that properly bounds-check all web content processing operations. Security administrators should prioritize deployment of these patches across all affected devices, particularly those used in enterprise environments where sensitive data is processed. Organizations should also implement network monitoring to detect potential exploitation attempts and consider temporary network restrictions on web content processing until full patch deployment is complete. The vulnerability highlights the importance of robust input validation and memory safety practices in modern software development, aligning with industry standards that emphasize defensive programming techniques to prevent such memory-related security issues.