About the security content of watchOS 9.5

This document describes the security content of watchOS 9.5.

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 updates page.

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

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

watchOS 9.5

Accessibility

Available for: Apple Watch Series 4 and later

Impact: An app may be able to bypass Privacy preferences

Description: A privacy issue was addressed with improved private data redaction for log entries.

CVE-2023-32388: Kirin (@Pwnrin)

Accessibility

Available for: Apple Watch Series 4 and later

Impact: Entitlements and privacy permissions granted to this app may be used by a malicious app

Description: This issue was addressed with improved checks.

CVE-2023-32400: Mickey Jin (@patch1t)

Accounts

Available for: Apple Watch Series 4 and later

Impact: An attacker may be able to leak user account emails

Description: A permissions issue was addressed with improved redaction of sensitive information.

CVE-2023-34352: Sergii Kryvoblotskyi of MacPaw Inc.

Apple Neural Engine

Available for: Apple Watch Series 4 and later

Impact: An app may be able to gain elevated privileges

Description: The issue was addressed with improved memory handling.

CVE-2023-32425: Mohamed GHANNAM (@_simo36)

Core Location

Available for: Apple Watch Series 4 and later

Impact: An app may be able to read sensitive location information

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

CVE-2023-32399: Adam M.

CoreServices

Available for: Apple Watch Series 4 and later

Impact: An app may be able to bypass Privacy preferences

Description: This issue was addressed with improved redaction of sensitive information.

CVE-2023-28191: Mickey Jin (@patch1t)

Face Gallery

Available for: Apple Watch Series 4 and later

Impact: An attacker with physical access to a locked Apple Watch may be able to view user photos or contacts via accessibility features

Description: This issue was addressed by restricting options offered on a locked device.

CVE-2023-32417: Zitong Wu (吴梓桐) from Zhuhai No.1 High School (珠海市第一中学)

GeoServices

Available for: Apple Watch Series 4 and later

Impact: An app may be able to read sensitive location information

Description: A privacy issue was addressed with improved private data redaction for log entries.

CVE-2023-32392: Adam M.

ImageIO

Available for: Apple Watch Series 4 and later

Impact: Processing an image may result in disclosure of process memory

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

CVE-2023-32372: Meysam Firouzi @R00tkitSMM of Mbition Mercedes-Benz Innovation Lab working with Trend Micro Zero Day Initiative

ImageIO

Available for: Apple Watch Series 4 and later

Impact: Processing an image may lead to arbitrary code execution

Description: A buffer overflow was addressed with improved bounds checking.

CVE-2023-32384: Meysam Firouzi @R00tkitsmm working with Trend Micro Zero Day Initiative

IOSurfaceAccelerator

Available for: Apple Watch Series 4 and later

Impact: An app may be able to disclose kernel memory

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

CVE-2023-32354: Linus Henze of Pinauten GmbH (pinauten.de)

IOSurfaceAccelerator

Available for: Apple Watch Series 4 and later

Impact: An app may be able to cause unexpected system termination or read kernel memory

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

CVE-2023-32420: CertiK SkyFall Team and Linus Henze of Pinauten GmbH (pinauten.de)

Kernel

Available for: Apple Watch Series 4 and later

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

Description: A type confusion issue was addressed with improved checks.

CVE-2023-27930: 08Tc3wBB of Jamf

Kernel

Available for: Apple Watch Series 4 and later

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

Description: A use-after-free issue was addressed with improved memory management.

CVE-2023-32398: Adam Doupé of ASU SEFCOM

Kernel

Available for: Apple Watch Series 4 and later

Impact: An app may be able to gain root privileges

Description: A race condition was addressed with improved state handling.

CVE-2023-32413: Eloi Benoist-Vanderbeken (@elvanderb) from Synacktiv (@Synacktiv) working with Trend Micro Zero Day Initiative

LaunchServices

Available for: Apple Watch Series 4 and later

Impact: An app may bypass Gatekeeper checks

Description: A logic issue was addressed with improved checks.

CVE-2023-32352: Wojciech Reguła (@_r3ggi) of SecuRing (wojciechregula.blog)

MallocStackLogging

Available for: Apple Watch Series 4 and later

Impact: An app may be able to gain root privileges

Description: This issue was addressed with improved file handling.

CVE-2023-32428: Gergely Kalman (@gergely_kalman)

Metal

Available for: Apple Watch Series 4 and later

Impact: An app may be able to bypass Privacy preferences

Description: A logic issue was addressed with improved state management.

CVE-2023-32407: Gergely Kalman (@gergely_kalman)

Model I/O

Available for: Apple Watch Series 4 and later

Impact: Processing a 3D model may result in disclosure of process memory

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

CVE-2023-32368: Mickey Jin (@patch1t)

NetworkExtension

Available for: Apple Watch Series 4 and later

Impact: An app may be able to read sensitive location information

Description: This issue was addressed with improved redaction of sensitive information.

CVE-2023-32403: Adam M.

NSURLSession

Available for: Apple Watch Series 4 and later

Impact: An app may be able to break out of its sandbox

Description: The issue was addressed with improvements to the file handling protocol.

CVE-2023-32437: Thijs Alkemade from Computest Sector 7

Photos

Available for: Apple Watch Series 4 and later

Impact: Photos belonging to the Hidden Photos Album could be viewed without authentication through Visual Lookup

Description: The issue was addressed with improved checks.

CVE-2023-32390: Julian Szulc

Sandbox

Available for: Apple Watch Series 4 and later

Impact: An app may be able to retain access to system configuration files even after its permission is revoked

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

CVE-2023-32357: Yiğit Can YILMAZ (@yilmazcanyigit), Koh M. Nakagawa of FFRI Security, Inc., Kirin (@Pwnrin), Jeff Johnson (underpassapp.com), and Csaba Fitzl (@theevilbit) of Offensive Security

Share Sheet

Available for: Apple Watch Series 4 and later

Impact: An app may be able to access user-sensitive data

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

CVE-2023-32432: Kirin (@Pwnrin)

Shortcuts

Available for: Apple Watch Series 4 and later

Impact: A shortcut may be able to use sensitive data with certain actions without prompting the user

Description: The issue was addressed with improved checks.

CVE-2023-32391: Wenchao Li and Xiaolong Bai of Alibaba Group

Shortcuts

Available for: Apple Watch Series 4 and later

Impact: An app may be able to bypass Privacy preferences

Description: This issue was addressed with improved entitlements.

CVE-2023-32404: Mickey Jin (@patch1t), Zhipeng Huo (@R3dF09) of Tencent Security Xuanwu Lab (xlab.tencent.com), and an anonymous researcher

Siri

Available for: Apple Watch Series 4 and later

Impact: A person with physical access to a device may be able to view contact information from the lock screen

Description: The issue was addressed with improved checks.

CVE-2023-32394: Khiem Tran

SQLite

Available for: Apple Watch Series 4 and later

Impact: An app may be able to bypass Privacy preferences

Description: This issue was addressed by adding additional SQLite logging restrictions.

CVE-2023-32422: Gergely Kalman (@gergely_kalman) and Wojciech Regula of SecuRing (wojciechregula.blog)

StorageKit

Available for: Apple Watch Series 4 and later

Impact: An app may be able to modify protected parts of the file system

Description: This issue was addressed with improved entitlements.

CVE-2023-32376: Yiğit Can YILMAZ (@yilmazcanyigit)

System Settings

Available for: Apple Watch Series 4 and later

Impact: An app firewall setting may not take effect after exiting the Settings app

Description: This issue was addressed with improved state management.

CVE-2023-28202: Satish Panduranga and an anonymous researcher

Telephony

Available for: Apple Watch Series 4 and later

Impact: A remote attacker may be able to cause unexpected app termination or arbitrary code execution

Description: A use-after-free issue was addressed with improved memory management.

CVE-2023-32412: Ivan Fratric of Google Project Zero

TV App

Available for: Apple Watch Series 4 and later

Impact: An app may be able to read sensitive location information

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

CVE-2023-32408: Adam M.

WebKit

Available for: Apple Watch Series 4 and later

Impact: Processing web content may disclose sensitive information

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

CVE-2023-32402: an anonymous researcher

WebKit

Available for: Apple Watch Series 4 and later

Impact: Processing web content may disclose sensitive information

Description: A buffer overflow issue was addressed with improved memory handling.

CVE-2023-32423: Ignacio Sanmillan (@ulexec)

WebKit

Available for: Apple Watch Series 4 and later

Impact: A remote attacker may be able to break out of Web Content sandbox. Apple is aware of a report that this issue may have been actively exploited.

Description: The issue was addressed with improved bounds checks.

CVE-2023-32409: Clément Lecigne of Google's Threat Analysis Group and Donncha Ó Cearbhaill of Amnesty International’s Security Lab

WebKit

Available for: Apple Watch Series 4 and later

Impact: Processing web content may disclose sensitive information. Apple is aware of a report that this issue may have been actively exploited.

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

CVE-2023-28204: an anonymous researcher

WebKit

Available for: Apple Watch Series 4 and later

Impact: Processing maliciously crafted web content may lead to arbitrary code execution. Apple is aware of a report that this issue may have been actively exploited.

Description: A use-after-free issue was addressed with improved memory management.

CVE-2023-32373: an anonymous researcher

Wi-Fi

Available for: Apple Watch Series 4 and later

Impact: An app may be able to disclose kernel memory

Description: This issue was addressed with improved redaction of sensitive information.

CVE-2023-32389: Pan ZhenPeng (@Peterpan0927) of STAR Labs SG Pte. Ltd.

Additional recognition

Accounts

We would like to acknowledge Sergii Kryvoblotskyi of MacPaw Inc. for their assistance.

CFNetwork

We would like to acknowledge Gabriel Geraldino de Souza for their assistance.

CloudKit

We would like to acknowledge Iconic for their assistance.

libxml2

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

Reminders

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

Security

We would like to acknowledge Brandon Toms for their assistance.

Share Sheet

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

Wallet

We would like to acknowledge James Duffy (mangoSecure) for their assistance.