Apple WebKit Use-After-Free Remote Code Execution Vulnerability (CVE-2023-32373) Urgent Security Advisory
Executive & SecOps Summary
SECOPS ASSESSMENTiOS/iPadOS 15 and 16, macOS Ventura, watchOS, tvOS, and Safari versions prior to 16.5
Processing maliciously crafted web content may lead to arbitrary code execution (RCE), and Apple is aware of active exploitation in the wild
Immediately update operating systems and Safari to the latest patched versions using Apple's official software update mechanism
Affected Products & Version Scope
Remediation & Live Workaround Commands
PATCH & WORKAROUND1. Official Patch & Version Upgrade Commands
Apply the official security updates immediately. For enterprise macOS fleets, administrators can force software updates via MDM or execute the following commands via terminal:
# List available software updates
softwareupdate -l
# Install all critical updates including macOS Ventura 13.4/Safari 16.5 and restart
sudo softwareupdate -i -a --restart2. Temporary Workaround & Hardening Configuration
If immediate patching is not feasible, restrict access to untrusted websites and enforce the use of alternative sandboxed browsers. You can also use configuration profiles to restrict WebKit execution or monitor outbound traffic:
# Example: Block outbound traffic to untrusted domains at the network gateway
# Monitor and restrict WebKit-based user agents from accessing external untrusted resources3. Log Audit & IoC Verification Commands
Run the following shell script on macOS endpoints to audit the current operating system and Safari versions for vulnerability exposure:
#!/bin/bash
# Check macOS Product Version
os_ver=$(sw_vers -productVersion)
echo 'Detected macOS Version:' $os_ver
# Check Safari Bundle Version
if [ -f '/Applications/Safari.app/Contents/Info.plist' ]; then
safari_ver=$(defaults read /Applications/Safari.app/Contents/Info.plist BundleShortVersionString)
echo 'Detected Safari Version:' $safari_ver
else
echo 'Safari application bundle not found.'
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Protect unpatched Windows, Linux, and macOS workloads against in-memory exploitation and lateral movement with autonomous EDR.
Technical Root Cause & Exploitation Mechanics
1. Vulnerability Overview & Root Cause
This vulnerability (CVE-2023-32373) is a Use-After-Free (UAF) flaw within Apple's WebKit rendering engine. It occurs due to improper memory management when handling dynamic DOM objects or elements in memory. When an object is deleted but its reference pointer is not cleared, the system may attempt to reuse this dangling pointer, allowing an attacker to manipulate the memory layout and hijack the execution flow.
2. Exploitation Mechanics & Attack Scenario
An attacker exploits this vulnerability by hosting a specially crafted web page containing malicious HTML, JavaScript, or CSS. When a victim visits this page using Safari or any WebKit-based browser, the malicious script triggers the premature deallocation of a specific memory object. The attacker then fills the freed memory space with controlled payload data, causing the engine to execute arbitrary shellcode when it attempts to access the corrupted object.
3. Infrastructure & Business Impact
As this vulnerability is listed in the CISA KEV catalog, it poses an immediate threat due to active exploitation. Successful exploitation allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the current user. This can lead to complete endpoint compromise, unauthorized access to sensitive corporate data, session hijacking, and lateral movement within enterprise networks.
Official Vendor Advisories & References
A use-after-free issue was addressed with improved memory management. This issue is fixed in watchOS 9.5, tvOS 16.5, macOS Ventura 13.4, iOS 15.7.6 and iPadOS 15.7.6, Safari 16.5, iOS 16.5 and iPadOS 16.5. 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.
Frequently Asked SecOps Questions (CVE-2023-32373)
FAQQ1. How critical is CVE-2023-32373 and is it actively exploited in the wild?
CVE-2023-32373 is rated CVSS 8.8 (HIGH) with a 30-day EPSS exploitation probability of 12.2%. It is listed in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog, requiring immediate emergency remediation.
Q2. Which vendors and products are affected by CVE-2023-32373?
Primary impacted vendors include apple across safari, ios, ipados, macos, watchos, tvos. Scope summary: Safari prior to 16.5, iOS 15.7.6 and iPadOS 15.7.6, iOS 16.5 and iPadOS 16.5, macOS Ventura prior to 13.4, watchOS prior to 9.5, and tvOS prior to 16.5
Q3. What temporary mitigations or workarounds exist for CVE-2023-32373 before patching?
[Mitigation] Immediately update operating systems and Safari to the latest patched versions using Apple's official software update mechanism Follow the CLI remediation commands and interactive SecOps checklist on this page to restrict exposure prior to your maintenance window.
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