CVE-2023-42982 in macOS
Summary
by MITRE • 04/11/2025
Processing a file may lead to a denial-of-service or potentially disclose memory contents. This issue is fixed in macOS 14. The issue was addressed with improved checks.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/22/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-42982 represents a critical security flaw in Apple's macOS operating system that manifests when processing specific file inputs. This issue falls under the category of memory corruption vulnerabilities and demonstrates how improper input validation can lead to severe system instability and potential information disclosure. The flaw exists in the file processing mechanisms of macOS versions prior to 14, where the system fails to adequately validate file structures before attempting to parse them, creating opportunities for malicious actors to exploit the system through crafted file inputs.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from insufficient boundary checks and input validation within the file processing subsystem. When a maliciously crafted file is processed by the affected macOS versions, the system's memory management routines fail to properly handle the unexpected file structure, leading to either a denial-of-service condition where the system becomes unresponsive or potentially allows unauthorized access to memory contents that should remain protected. This type of vulnerability commonly maps to CWE-129 Input Validation and Output Encoding, specifically CWE-787 Out-of-bounds Write, which represents a fundamental flaw in how the system handles memory boundaries during file processing operations. The vulnerability's potential for information disclosure suggests that attackers may be able to extract sensitive data from system memory through carefully constructed file inputs.
The operational impact of CVE-2023-42982 extends beyond simple system unavailability, as it represents a potential vector for more sophisticated attacks that could compromise system integrity and confidentiality. Organizations running affected macOS versions face significant risk of service disruption and potential data exposure, particularly in environments where automated file processing occurs or where users may encounter malicious file attachments. The vulnerability affects the core file handling capabilities of the operating system, meaning that any application or service that processes files could be impacted, including email clients, file managers, and document processing applications. This creates a broad attack surface that could be exploited by threat actors to establish persistent access or cause widespread service disruption across affected systems.
The fix implemented by Apple in macOS 14 addresses this vulnerability through enhanced input validation and boundary checking mechanisms within the file processing subsystem. This remediation approach aligns with defensive programming principles and represents a classic solution for preventing out-of-bounds memory access issues. The improved checks ensure that file structures are properly validated before any memory operations occur, preventing the exploitation vectors that led to the denial-of-service and potential memory disclosure conditions. Security practitioners should note that this vulnerability may be mapped to attack techniques within the ATT&CK framework, specifically under T1059 Command and Scripting Interpreter and T1499 Endpoint Denial of Service, as it enables both system disruption and potential information extraction. Organizations should prioritize updating to macOS 14 or applying the relevant security patches to mitigate this vulnerability and protect against potential exploitation attempts that could leverage this flaw for more advanced attack vectors.