# CVE-2023-42974: Race condition in iOS and iPadOS

> A race condition allows an app to execute arbitrary code with kernel privileges on Apple operating systems.

- **Severity:** High 7.0 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Local or same network only
- **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-42pj-35w6-4jwg

## What is CVE-2023-42974?

CVE-2023-42974 is a high-severity vulnerability in Apple Ipad Os, published on 28 Mar 2024. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.

### Official description

A race condition was addressed with improved state handling. This issue is fixed in macOS Monterey 12.7.2, macOS Ventura 13.6.3, iOS 17.2 and iPadOS 17.2, iOS 16.7.3 and iPadOS 16.7.3, macOS Sonoma 14.2. An app may be able to execute arbitrary code with kernel privileges.

Weakness: CWE-362 (Concurrent Execution using Shared Resource with Improper Synchronization)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2023-42974?

It affects 4 products.


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

## How do I fix CVE-2023-42974?

No fix has been published for CVE-2023-42974 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2023-42974 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2023-42974 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-2023-42974 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2023-42974 is a high-severity vulnerability in Apple Ipad Os, published on 28 Mar 2024. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2023-42974 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-2023-42974/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-42974/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2023-42974
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-42974
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2023-42974

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-42974/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.