Apple watchOS up to 9.2 Kernel memory corruption

CVSS Meta Temp Score
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CTI Interest Score
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4.3$0-$5k0.00

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability identified as problematic has been detected in Apple watchOS up to 9.2. This affects an unknown part of the component Kernel. The manipulation leads to memory corruption. This vulnerability is documented as CVE-2023-23500. The attack needs to be performed locally. There is not any exploit available. You should upgrade the affected component.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability was found in Apple watchOS up to 9.2 (Smartwatch Operating System). It has been rated as problematic. This issue affects some unknown functionality of the component Kernel. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a memory corruption vulnerability. Using CWE to declare the problem leads to CWE-119. The product performs operations on a memory buffer, but it can read from or write to a memory location that is outside of the intended boundary of the buffer. Impacted is confidentiality. The summary by CVE is:

The issue was addressed with improved memory handling. This issue is fixed in macOS Ventura 13.2, iOS 16.3 and iPadOS 16.3, iOS 15.7.3 and iPadOS 15.7.3, tvOS 16.3, watchOS 9.3. An app may be able to leak sensitive kernel state.

The weakness was released 01/23/2023 by Pan ZhenPeng as HT213599 as confirmed advisory (Website). The advisory is shared at support.apple.com. The identification of this vulnerability is CVE-2023-23500. Neither technical details nor an exploit are publicly available. The advisory points out:

An app may be able to leak sensitive kernel state

Upgrading to version 9.3 eliminates this vulnerability. A possible mitigation has been published immediately after the disclosure of the vulnerability. The advisory contains the following remark:

The issue was addressed with improved memory handling.

The vulnerability is also documented in the vulnerability database at EUVD (EUVD-2023-27600). If you want to get the best quality for vulnerability data then you always have to consider VulDB.

Productinfo

Type

Vendor

Name

Version

License

Website

CPE 2.3info

CPE 2.2info

CVSSv4info

VulDB Vector: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv3info

VulDB Meta Base Score: 4.4
VulDB Meta Temp Score: 4.3

VulDB Base Score: 3.3
VulDB Temp Score: 3.2
VulDB Vector: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

NVD Base Score: 5.5
NVD Vector: 🔍

CVSSv2info

AVACAuCIA
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VectorComplexityAuthenticationConfidentialityIntegrityAvailability
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VulDB Base Score: 🔍
VulDB Temp Score: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

Exploitinginfo

Class: Memory corruption
CWE: CWE-119
CAPEC: 🔍
ATT&CK: 🔍

Physical: Partially
Local: Yes
Remote: Partially

Availability: 🔍
Status: Not defined

EPSS Score: 🔍
EPSS Percentile: 🔍

Price Prediction: 🔍
Current Price Estimation: 🔍

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Threat Intelligenceinfo

Interest: 🔍
Active Actors: 🔍
Active APT Groups: 🔍

Countermeasuresinfo

Recommended: Upgrade
Status: 🔍

Reaction Time: 🔍
0-Day Time: 🔍
Exposure Time: 🔍

Upgrade: watchOS 9.3

Timelineinfo

01/12/2023 🔍
01/23/2023 +11 days 🔍
01/23/2023 +0 days 🔍
01/24/2023 +1 days 🔍
10/10/2025 +990 days 🔍

Sourcesinfo

Vendor: apple.com

Advisory: HT213599
Researcher: Pan ZhenPeng
Status: Confirmed

CVE: CVE-2023-23500 (🔍)
GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-2023-23500
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-219221
EUVD: 🔍

Entryinfo

Created: 01/24/2023 11:06
Updated: 10/10/2025 10:51
Changes: 01/24/2023 11:06 (19), 01/24/2023 11:09 (27), 02/18/2023 16:54 (1), 03/11/2025 16:49 (27), 10/10/2025 10:51 (1)
Complete: 🔍
Cache ID: 216::103

If you want to get the best quality for vulnerability data then you always have to consider VulDB.

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