High severity · published Jan 10, 2024
CVE-2023-41974
Apple iOS and iPadOS Use-After-Free Vulnerability
In wildKEV
7.8
CVSS
2%
EPSS
Yes
On KEV
Description
A use-after-free issue was addressed with improved memory management. This issue is fixed in iOS 17 and iPadOS 17, iOS 15.8.7 and iPadOS 15.8.7. An app may be able to execute arbitrary code with kernel privileges.
CVSS vector
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Attack vector
Local
Complexity
Low
Privileges
None
User interaction
Required
Confidentiality
High
Integrity
High
Availability
High
Scope
Unchanged
Exploitation
Is it being used?
Exploit prediction (EPSS)2.0% · higher than 80% of CVEs
Exploited in the wildYes
CISA KEVListed Mar 5, 2026
Federal remediation dueMar 26, 2026
Ransomware campaign useNot known
Affected products
Which versions
IO
iOS · Apple
before 15.8.7; 16.0 before 17.0 · source: NVD
IA
iOS and iPadOS · Apple
before 17; before 15.8.7 · source: vendor, KEV
In the news
VulnerabilityHigh
CISA Adds Five Known Exploited Vulnerabilities to Catalog
CISA has added five new vulnerabilities to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) Catalog , based on evidence of active exploitation.
CVE-2017-7921 Hikvision Multiple Products Improper Authentication Vulnerability
CVE-2021-22681 Rockwell Multiple Products Insufficient Protected Credentials Vulnerability
CVE-2021-30952 Apple Multiple Products Integer Overflow or Wraparound Vulnerability
CVE-2023-41974 Apple iOS and iPadOS Use-After-Free Vulnerability
CVE-2023-43000 Apple Multiple products Use-After-Free Vulnerability
These types of vulnerabilities are frequent attack vectors for malicious cyber actors and pose significant risks to the federal enterprise.
Binding Operational Directive (BOD) 22-01: Reducing the Significant Risk of Known Exploited Vulnerabilities established the KEV Catalog as a living list of known Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures (CVEs) that carry significant risk to the federal enterprise. BOD 22-01 requires Federal Civilian Executive Branch (FCEB) agencies to remediate identified vulnerabilities by the due date to protect FCEB networks against active threats. See the BOD 22-01 Fact Sheet for more information.
Although BOD 22-01 only applies to FCEB agencies, CISA strongly urges all organizations to reduce their exposure to cyberattacks by prioritizing timely remediation of KEV Catalog vulnerabilities as part of their vulnerability management practice. CISA will continue to add vulnerabilities to the catalog that mee...
Mar 5, 2026·CISA Advisories
VulnerabilityCritical
[CISA KEV] CVE-2023-41974: Apple iOS and iPadOS - Apple iOS and iPadOS Use-After-Free Vulnerability
Apple iOS and iPadOS contain a use-after-free vulnerability. An app may be able to execute arbitrary code with kernel privileges.
IAiOS and iPadOSCVE-2023-41974
Mar 5, 2026·CISA KEV
References
NVD
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-41974
CVE.org
https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2023-41974
CISA KEV catalogue
https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog
support.apple.com
https://support.apple.com/en-us/120949
support.apple.com
https://support.apple.com/en-us/126632
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