CVE-2023-38598 Use after free in iOS and iPadOS
An app can execute arbitrary code with kernel privileges due to a use-after-free vulnerability in Apple operating systems.
- Exploited in the wild
- Not known
- Login needed
- Not needed
- Attackable
- Over the internet
- Victim action needed
- Not needed
- Fix
- None listed
What is CVE-2023-38598?
CVE-2023-38598 is a critical use after free vulnerability in Apple Ipados, published on 28 Jul 2023. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.
Official description
A use-after-free issue was addressed with improved memory management. This issue is fixed in watchOS 9.6, macOS Big Sur 11.7.9, iOS 15.7.8 and iPadOS 15.7.8, macOS Monterey 12.6.8, tvOS 16.6, iOS 16.6 and iPadOS 16.6, macOS Ventura 13.5. An app may be able to execute arbitrary code with kernel privileges.
Weakness: CWE-416
Which versions are affected by CVE-2023-38598?
It affects 5 products.
Products include Apple Ipados, Apple Iphone Os, Apple Macos, Apple Tvos, Apple Watchos.
How do I fix CVE-2023-38598?
No fix has been published for CVE-2023-38598 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.
Upgrade to the fixed version. These bugs are found with fuzzing and sanitisers and avoided by memory-safe languages. More about Use after free.
Is CVE-2023-38598 being exploited?
There is no known exploitation of CVE-2023-38598 in the wild and no public exploit code.
Other vulnerabilities in Apple Ipados
- CVE-2025-43300 Apple iOS, iPadOS, and macOS Out-of-Bounds Write
- CVE-2025-24201 Apple Multiple Products WebKit Out-of-Bounds Write
- CVE-2025-24085 Apple Multiple Products Use-After-Free
- CVE-2025-31200 Apple Multiple Products Memory Corruption
- CVE-2025-31201 Apple Multiple Products Arbitrary Read and Write
Sources
Also known as GHSA-v9j5-hh43-rw3p.