Is CVE-2023-38606 being actively exploited?

Yes. CVE-2023-38606 is listed in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog, added on July 26, 2023.

What is the CVSS score for CVE-2023-38606?

CVE-2023-38606 has a CVSS 3.1 base score of 5.5 (MEDIUM).

CVE-2023-38606

MEDIUM · CVSS 5.5CISA KEV: actively exploitedEPSS 2.9%EU EUVD: exploited

This issue was addressed with improved state management. This issue is fixed in macOS Monterey 12.6.8, iOS 15.7.8 and iPadOS 15.7.8, iOS 16.6 and iPadOS 16.6, tvOS 16.6, macOS Big Sur 11.7.9, macOS Ventura 13.5, watchOS 9.6. An app may be able to modify sensitive kernel state. Apple is aware of a report that this issue may have been actively exploited against versions of iOS released before iOS 15.7.1.

Key facts

CVSS score: 5.5 (v3.1)
Severity: MEDIUM
CVSS vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:N
EPSS score: 2.9% (87th percentile)
In CISA KEV: Yes, added July 26, 2023
In EU EUVD: Yes (EUVD-2023-42405)
Published: July 27, 2023
NVD last modified: June 17, 2026
Status: Analyzed

CISA Known Exploited Vulnerability

Apple Multiple Products Kernel Unspecified Vulnerability

Added to the KEV catalog on July 26, 2023; federal remediation due August 16, 2023.

EU Vulnerability Database (EUVD)

This vulnerability is also tracked by ENISA as EUVD-2023-42405 in the EU Vulnerability Database. ENISA flags it as known exploited. Last updated in EUVD on October 30, 2025.

View on the EU Vulnerability Database

Affected products

apple / ipados
apple / iphone os
apple / macos
apple / tvos
apple / watchos

Certified products that may be affected

20 FIPS 140 or Common Criteria certified products, from automated matching by sec-certs.org.

Strong Customer Authentication for Apple Pay, on MacBook Air 2022 with M2 running macOS Ventura 13.3.1 - Apple Inc. - Common Criteria 2023-9-INF-4307 - active
Strong Customer Authentication for Apple Pay on Apple Watch with S8 running watchOS 9.4(watchOS 9.4 (build 20T253)) ( ANSSI-CC-2023/60) - Apple Inc. - Common Criteria ANSSI-CC-2023/60 - active
Strong Customer Authentication for Apple Pay on iPhone 14 Pro with A16 Bionic running iOS 16.4.1Version iOS 16.4.1 (build 20E252) ( ANSSI-CC-2023/59) - Apple Inc. - Common Criteria ANSSI-CC-2023/59 - active
Strong Customer Authentication for Apple Pay on Mac mini with M2 and Magic keyboard with Touch ID, running macOS Ventura 13.3.1 , macOS Ventura 13.3.1 (build 22E261) ( ANSSI-CC-2023/61) - Apple Inc. - Common Criteria ANSSI-CC-2023/61 - active
Strong Customer Authentication for Apple Pay on iPhone SE (3rd generation) with A15 Bionic running iOS 16.4.1iOS 16.4.1 (build 20E252) (ANSSI-CC-2023/58) - Apple Inc. - Common Criteria ANSSI-CC-2023/58 - active

See all 20 in the Security Certifications Explorer.

References

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT213841(Vendor Advisory)
https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT213842(Vendor Advisory)
https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT213843(Vendor Advisory)
https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT213844(Vendor Advisory)
https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT213845(Vendor Advisory)
https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT213846(Vendor Advisory)
https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT213848(Vendor Advisory)
https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2023-38606(US Government Resource)

Last updated September 17, 2026 · Source: NVD, CISA KEV, FIRST.org EPSS

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