# CVE-2023-27965: Memory corruption in Studio Display Firmware Update

> An app can execute arbitrary code with kernel privileges due to a memory corruption issue in macOS and Studio Display firmware.

- **Severity:** High 7.8 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Local or same network only
- **Victim action needed:** A user has to click or open something
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 8 May 2023
- **Updated:** 29 Jan 2025
- **Also known as:** GHSA-q4qx-hmmj-4gj8

## What is CVE-2023-27965?

CVE-2023-27965 is a high-severity memory corruption vulnerability in Apple Macos, published on 8 May 2023. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.

### Official description

A memory corruption issue was addressed with improved state management. This issue is fixed in macOS Ventura 13.3, Studio Display Firmware Update 16.4. An app may be able to execute arbitrary code with kernel privileges.

Weakness: CWE-787 (Out-of-bounds Write)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2023-27965?

It affects 2 products.


Products: Apple Macos, Apple Studio Display Firmware.

## How do I fix CVE-2023-27965?

No fix has been published for CVE-2023-27965 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2023-27965 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2023-27965 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in Apple Macos

- [CVE-2026-65400](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-65400/): Apple macOS Improper Authentication (critical 9.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2024-44146](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2024-44146/): Security feature bypass in macOS (critical 10.0)
- [CVE-2024-44148](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2024-44148/): Security feature bypass in macOS (critical 10.0)
- [CVE-2023-38586](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-38586/): Security feature bypass in macOS (critical 10.0)
- [CVE-2023-40455](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-40455/): Security feature bypass in macOS (critical 10.0)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2023-27965 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2023-27965 is a high-severity memory corruption vulnerability in Apple Macos, published on 8 May 2023. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2023-27965 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: Apple Macos. No package-level version data is available, so check the vendor advisory linked from the reference page.

Task:
1. Search the dependency manifests and lockfiles (for example package.json, package-lock.json, requirements.txt, poetry.lock, uv.lock, pom.xml, build.gradle, go.mod, Cargo.lock, Gemfile.lock) and any Dockerfiles for the affected packages, including transitive dependencies.
2. If an affected version is in use, upgrade it to the fixed version for its release line with the project's package manager, so the lockfile is regenerated. Prefer the smallest upgrade that fixes it.
3. If there is no fix, or the upgrade would break the build, do not guess: explain the risk and the safest workaround instead.
4. Run the tests and summarise what changed and why.
5. If nothing in the project is affected, say so and change nothing.

Reference: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-27965/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-27965/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2023-27965
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-27965
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2023-27965

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-27965/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.