About the security content of iOS 16.7 and iPadOS 16.7

This document describes the security content of iOS 16.7 and iPadOS 16.7.

About Apple security updates

For our customers' protection, Apple doesn't disclose, discuss, or confirm security issues until an investigation has occurred and patches or releases are available. Recent releases are listed on the Apple security releases page.

Apple security documents reference vulnerabilities by CVE-ID when possible.

For more information about security, see the Apple Product Security page.

iOS 16.7 and iPadOS 16.7

App Store

Available for: iPhone 8 and later, iPad Pro (all models), iPad Air 3rd generation and later, iPad 5th generation and later, and iPad mini 5th generation and later

Impact: A remote attacker may be able to break out of Web Content sandbox

Description: The issue was addressed with improved handling of protocols.

CVE-2023-40448: w0wbox

Ask to Buy

Available for: iPhone 8 and later, iPad Pro (all models), iPad Air 3rd generation and later, iPad 5th generation and later, and iPad mini 5th generation and later

Impact: An app may be able to access protected user data

Description: The issue was addressed with improved checks.

CVE-2023-38612: Chris Ross (Zoom)

Biometric Authentication

Available for: iPhone 8 and later, iPad Pro (all models), iPad Air 3rd generation and later, iPad 5th generation and later, and iPad mini 5th generation and later

Impact: An app may be able to disclose kernel memory

Description: An out-of-bounds read was addressed with improved bounds checking.

CVE-2023-41232: Liang Wei of PixiePoint Security

CoreAnimation

Available for: iPhone 8 and later, iPad Pro (all models), iPad Air 3rd generation and later, iPad 5th generation and later, and iPad mini 5th generation and later

Impact: Processing web content may lead to a denial-of-service

Description: The issue was addressed with improved memory handling.

CVE-2023-40420: 이준성(Junsung Lee) of Cross Republic

Core Image

Available for: iPhone 8 and later, iPad Pro (all models), iPad Air 3rd generation and later, iPad 5th generation and later, and iPad mini 5th generation and later

Impact: An app may be able to access edited photos saved to a temporary directory

Description: An issue was addressed with improved handling of temporary files.

CVE-2023-40438: Wojciech Regula of SecuRing (wojciechregula.blog)

Game Center

Available for: iPhone 8 and later, iPad Pro (all models), iPad Air 3rd generation and later, iPad 5th generation and later, and iPad mini 5th generation and later

Impact: An app may be able to access contacts

Description: The issue was addressed with improved handling of caches.

CVE-2023-40395: Csaba Fitzl (@theevilbit) of Offensive Security

Kernel

Available for: iPhone 8 and later, iPad Pro (all models), iPad Air 3rd generation and later, iPad 5th generation and later, and iPad mini 5th generation and later

Impact: An app may be able to execute arbitrary code with kernel privileges

Description: The issue was addressed with improved memory handling.

CVE-2023-41984: Pan ZhenPeng (@Peterpan0927) of STAR Labs SG Pte. Ltd.

Kernel

Available for: iPhone 8 and later, iPad Pro (all models), iPad Air 3rd generation and later, iPad 5th generation and later, and iPad mini 5th generation and later

Impact: An attacker that has already achieved kernel code execution may be able to bypass kernel memory mitigations

Description: The issue was addressed with improved memory handling.

CVE-2023-41981: Linus Henze of Pinauten GmbH (pinauten.de)

Kernel

Available for: iPhone 8 and later, iPad Pro (all models), iPad Air 3rd generation and later, iPad 5th generation and later, and iPad mini 5th generation and later

Impact: A local attacker may be able to elevate their privileges. Apple is aware of a report that this issue may have been actively exploited against versions of iOS before iOS 16.7.

Description: The issue was addressed with improved checks.

CVE-2023-41992: Bill Marczak of The Citizen Lab at The University of Toronto's Munk School and Maddie Stone of Google's Threat Analysis Group

libxpc

Available for: iPhone 8 and later, iPad Pro (all models), iPad Air 3rd generation and later, iPad 5th generation and later, and iPad mini 5th generation and later

Impact: An app may be able to access protected user data

Description: An authorization issue was addressed with improved state management.

CVE-2023-41073: Zhipeng Huo (@R3dF09) of Tencent Security Xuanwu Lab (xlab.tencent.com)

libxpc

Available for: iPhone 8 and later, iPad Pro (all models), iPad Air 3rd generation and later, iPad 5th generation and later, and iPad mini 5th generation and later

Impact: An app may be able to delete files for which it does not have permission

Description: A permissions issue was addressed with additional restrictions.

CVE-2023-40454: Zhipeng Huo (@R3dF09) of Tencent Security Xuanwu Lab (xlab.tencent.com)

libxslt

Available for: iPhone 8 and later, iPad Pro (all models), iPad Air 3rd generation and later, iPad 5th generation and later, and iPad mini 5th generation and later

Impact: Processing web content may disclose sensitive information

Description: The issue was addressed with improved memory handling.

CVE-2023-40403: Dohyun Lee (@l33d0hyun) of PK Security

MobileStorageMounter

Available for: iPhone 8 and later, iPad Pro (all models), iPad Air 3rd generation and later, iPad 5th generation and later, and iPad mini 5th generation and later

Impact: A user may be able to elevate privileges

Description: An access issue was addressed with improved access restrictions.

CVE-2023-41068: Mickey Jin (@patch1t)

Passkeys

Available for: iPhone 8 and later, iPad Pro (all models), iPad Air 3rd generation and later, iPad 5th generation and later, and iPad mini 5th generation and later

Impact: An attacker may be able to access passkeys without authentication

Description: The issue was addressed with additional permissions checks.

CVE-2023-40401: an anonymous researcher and weize she

Pro Res

Available for: iPhone 8 and later, iPad Pro (all models), iPad Air 3rd generation and later, iPad 5th generation and later, and iPad mini 5th generation and later

Impact: An app may be able to execute arbitrary code with kernel privileges

Description: The issue was addressed with improved memory handling.

CVE-2023-41063: Certik Skyfall Team

Safari

Available for: iPhone 8 and later, iPad Pro (all models), iPad Air 3rd generation and later, iPad 5th generation and later, and iPad mini 5th generation and later

Impact: An app may be able to identify what other apps a user has installed

Description: The issue was addressed with improved checks.

CVE-2023-35990: Adriatik Raci of Sentry Cybersecurity

Security

Available for: iPhone 8 and later, iPad Pro (all models), iPad Air 3rd generation and later, iPad 5th generation and later, and iPad mini 5th generation and later

Impact: A malicious app may be able to bypass signature validation. Apple is aware of a report that this issue may have been actively exploited against versions of iOS before iOS 16.7.

Description: A certificate validation issue was addressed.

CVE-2023-41991: Bill Marczak of The Citizen Lab at The University of Toronto's Munk School and Maddie Stone of Google's Threat Analysis Group

Share Sheet

Available for: iPhone 8 and later, iPad Pro (all models), iPad Air 3rd generation and later, iPad 5th generation and later, and iPad mini 5th generation and later

Impact: An app may be able to access sensitive data logged when a user shares a link

Description: A logic issue was addressed with improved checks.

CVE-2023-41070: Kirin (@Pwnrin)

WebKit

Available for: iPhone 8 and later, iPad Pro (all models), iPad Air 3rd generation and later, iPad 5th generation and later, and iPad mini 5th generation and later

Impact: Processing web content may lead to arbitrary code execution. Apple is aware of a report that this issue may have been actively exploited against versions of iOS before iOS 16.7.

Description: The issue was addressed with improved checks.

CVE-2023-41993: Bill Marczak of The Citizen Lab at The University of Toronto's Munk School and Maddie Stone of Google's Threat Analysis Group

Additional recognition

Apple Neural Engine

We would like to acknowledge pattern-f (@pattern_F_) of Ant Security Light-Year Lab for their assistance.

AppSandbox

We would like to acknowledge Kirin (@Pwnrin) for their assistance.

libxml2

We would like to acknowledge OSS-Fuzz, Ned Williamson of Google Project Zero for their assistance.

Kernel

We would like to acknowledge Bill Marczak of The Citizen Lab at The University of Toronto's Munk School and Maddie Stone of Google's Threat Analysis Group for their assistance.

WebKit

We would like to acknowledge Khiem Tran, Narendra Bhati From Suma Soft Pvt. Ltd, Pune (India) for their assistance.

WebRTC

We would like to acknowledge anonymous researcher for their assistance.