CVE-2023-42983 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-2023-42983 represents a critical security flaw in macOS systems that manifests when processing specific files, potentially leading to either denial-of-service conditions or unauthorized memory disclosure. This issue affects the underlying file processing mechanisms within the operating system, where improper validation of file content can result in system instability or information leakage. The vulnerability was addressed by Apple in macOS 14, demonstrating the company's commitment to maintaining system integrity and protecting user data from potential exploitation.
The technical nature of this flaw lies in insufficient input validation during file processing operations, creating opportunities for malicious actors to craft specially formatted files that trigger unexpected system behavior. When such files are processed, the system may experience crashes or fail to properly isolate memory segments, potentially exposing sensitive data to unauthorized access. This type of vulnerability typically falls under CWE-129, which addresses improper validation of input, and may also relate to CWE-125, concerning out-of-bounds read conditions that can lead to memory disclosure. The root cause appears to stem from inadequate bounds checking and memory management during file parsing operations, particularly when handling malformed or unexpected file structures.
The operational impact of CVE-2023-42983 extends beyond simple system disruption, as it creates potential vectors for more sophisticated attacks that could leverage the memory disclosure aspect to extract sensitive information from running processes. Attackers could potentially craft files designed to trigger the vulnerability, causing system crashes that might be exploited for privilege escalation or information gathering. The denial-of-service component could be particularly damaging in enterprise environments where system availability is critical, as it could be used to disrupt normal operations or create opportunities for further exploitation. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1499.004, which covers network denial-of-service attacks, and may also connect to T1566.001 for social engineering through malicious file attachments.
Organizations should prioritize immediate deployment of macOS 14 updates to address this vulnerability, as the fix includes enhanced validation checks that prevent the problematic file processing scenarios. System administrators should also implement additional monitoring for unusual file processing patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts, while maintaining awareness of the potential for memory disclosure attacks. The mitigation strategy should include regular security assessments of file handling processes and network monitoring to detect any attempts to leverage this vulnerability. Security teams should consider implementing sandboxing mechanisms for file processing operations and maintain up-to-date threat intelligence to identify potential exploitation attempts targeting this specific vulnerability. The fix demonstrates Apple's proactive approach to vulnerability management and highlights the importance of timely patch deployment in maintaining system security posture.