# CVE-2023-42931: Privilege escalation in macOS

> A local attacker can gain admin privileges without proper authentication on macOS, requiring an OS update to fix.

- **Severity:** High 8.3 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:L`)
- **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:** No
- **Published:** 28 Mar 2024
- **Updated:** 4 Nov 2025
- **Also known as:** GHSA-r9x8-r5r4-mq7c

## What is CVE-2023-42931?

CVE-2023-42931 is a high-severity vulnerability in Apple Macos, published on 28 Mar 2024. 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

The issue was addressed with improved checks. This issue is fixed in macOS Ventura 13.6.3, macOS Sonoma 14.2, macOS Monterey 12.7.2. A process may gain admin privileges without proper authentication.

Weakness: CWE-280 (Improper Handling of Insufficient Permissions or Privileges)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2023-42931?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Apple Macos.

## How do I fix CVE-2023-42931?

No fix has been published for CVE-2023-42931 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2023-42931 being exploited?

It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2023-42931 exists.

Public exploit code:

- The exploit targets a critical privilege escalation vulnerability in macOS versions Monterey, Ventura, and Sonoma. (github_poc): https://github.com/d0rb/CVE-2023-42931
- The exploit targets a LPE works on macOS 14.0-14.1.2, 13.0-13.6.2, 12.0-12.7.1 (github_poc): https://github.com/tageniu/CVE-2023-42931

## 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-2023-42931 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2023-42931 is a high-severity vulnerability in Apple Macos, published on 28 Mar 2024. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.
Exploitation: It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2023-42931 exists.

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-2023-42931/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-42931/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2023-42931
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-42931
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2023-42931

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-42931/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.