# CVE-2023-42942: Path traversal in iOS and iPadOS

> A malicious app can gain root privileges due to improper symlink handling in Apple operating systems.

- **Severity:** High 7.8 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Any signed-in user
- **Attackable:** Local or same network only
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 21 Feb 2024
- **Updated:** 4 Nov 2025
- **Also known as:** GHSA-gqvf-8g7j-7gh5

## What is CVE-2023-42942?

CVE-2023-42942 is a high-severity path traversal vulnerability in Apple Ipad Os, published on 21 Feb 2024. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

This issue was addressed with improved handling of symlinks. This issue is fixed in watchOS 10.1, macOS Sonoma 14.1, tvOS 17.1, iOS 16.7.2 and iPadOS 16.7.2, iOS 17.1 and iPadOS 17.1, macOS Ventura 13.6.1. A malicious app may be able to gain root privileges.

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

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2023-42942?

It affects 6 products.


Products: Apple Ipad Os, Apple Ipados, Apple Iphone Os, Apple Macos, Apple Tvos, Apple Watchos.

## How do I fix CVE-2023-42942?

No fix has been published for CVE-2023-42942 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2023-42942 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2023-42942 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in Apple Ipad Os

- [CVE-2021-1794](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-1794/): Memory corruption in iOS and iPadOS (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2021-1795](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-1795/): Memory corruption in iOS and iPadOS (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2021-1796](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-1796/): Memory corruption in iOS and iPadOS (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2021-1818](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-1818/): Memory corruption in iOS and iPadOS (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2024-23255](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2024-23255/): Auth bypass in iOS and iPadOS (critical 9.1)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2023-42942 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2023-42942 is a high-severity path traversal vulnerability in Apple Ipad Os, published on 21 Feb 2024. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2023-42942 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: Apple Ipad Os. 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-2023-42942/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-42942/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2023-42942
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-42942
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2023-42942

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-42942/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.