# CVE-2023-42844: Path traversal in macOS

> A website can access sensitive user data by exploiting improper symlink handling in macOS.

- **Severity:** High 7.5 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 25 Oct 2023
- **Updated:** 13 Feb 2025
- **Also known as:** GHSA-2jcp-64q4-69c4

## What is CVE-2023-42844?

CVE-2023-42844 is a high-severity path traversal vulnerability in Apple Macos, published on 25 Oct 2023. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

This issue was addressed with improved handling of symlinks. This issue is fixed in macOS Sonoma 14.1, macOS Monterey 12.7.1, macOS Ventura 13.6.1. A website may be able to access sensitive user data when resolving symlinks.

Weakness: CWE-59 (Improper Link Resolution Before File Access)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2023-42844?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Apple Macos.

## How do I fix CVE-2023-42844?

No fix has been published for CVE-2023-42844 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2023-42844 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2023-42844 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-2023-42844 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2023-42844 is a high-severity path traversal vulnerability in Apple Macos, published on 25 Oct 2023. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2023-42844 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-2023-42844/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-42844/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2023-42844
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-42844
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2023-42844

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-42844/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.