# CVE-2023-40451: Code injection in Safari

> An attacker with JavaScript execution can execute arbitrary code due to insufficient iframe sandbox enforcement in Safari.

- **Severity:** High 8.8 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/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:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** A user has to click or open something
- **Fix available:** Yes
- **Published:** 26 Sep 2023
- **Updated:** 13 Feb 2025
- **Also known as:** DEBIAN-CVE-2023-40451, GHSA-p489-ffhp-rw3f, UBUNTU-CVE-2023-40451

## What is CVE-2023-40451?

CVE-2023-40451 is a high-severity code injection vulnerability in Apple Safari, published on 26 Sep 2023. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.

### Official description

This issue was addressed with improved iframe sandbox enforcement. This issue is fixed in Safari 17. An attacker with JavaScript execution may be able to execute arbitrary code.

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2023-40451?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Apple Safari.

## How do I fix CVE-2023-40451?

Upgrade to a fixed version.

## Is CVE-2023-40451 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2023-40451 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in Apple Safari

- [CVE-2015-5780](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2015-5780/): Security feature bypass in n/a (critical 10.0)
- [CVE-2014-1300](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2014-1300/): Code injection in n/a (critical 10.0)
- [CVE-2014-1303](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2014-1303/): Memory corruption in n/a (critical 10.0)
- [CVE-2010-1120](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2010-1120/): Code injection in n/a (critical 10.0)
- [CVE-2009-0137](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2009-0137/): Cross-site scripting in n/a (critical 10.0)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2023-40451 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2023-40451 is a high-severity code injection vulnerability in Apple Safari, published on 26 Sep 2023. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2023-40451 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: Apple Safari. 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-2023-40451/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-40451/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2023-40451
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-40451
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2023-40451

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-40451/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.