---
title: "CVE-2023-41974: Apple iOS and iPadOS Use-After-Free Vulnerability"
url: https://erroneo.us/security/cve/CVE-2023-41974/
description: "CVE-2023-41974 (Apple iOS and iPadOS): Exploited in the wild (CISA KEV). A use-after-free issue was addressed with improved memory management. This issue is…"
type: vulnerability-record
section: "Security Digest"
date_published: 2024-01-10
date_modified: 2026-03-12
publisher: erroneo.us
author: erroneo.us Security Desk
cve: "CVE-2023-41974"
kev: true
cvss: 7.8
epss: 0.01955
license: All rights reserved. Quote with attribution and a link.
---

# CVE-2023-41974: Apple iOS and iPadOS Use-After-Free Vulnerability

**Signal:** Exploited: patch now if you run it. CISA has confirmed exploitation in the wild. (Computed from CISA KEV, EPSS and CVSS; not an editorial verdict.)

## Should you act?

- Yes, if you run Apple iOS and iPadOS. CISA added this CVE to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog on 2026-03-05, which means there is reliable evidence of exploitation in the wild. US federal agencies must remediate by 2026-03-26 ; treat that as the outer limit, not the target.
- EPSS 2.0% , percentile 80: FIRST’s model estimates a 2.0% chance of exploitation activity in the next 30 days, higher than 80% of all scored CVEs (elevated). EPSS is a probability, not a verdict.
- Needs local access needed. Lower urgency for most teams unless an attacker could already run code on the machine.

## What it is

A use-after-free issue was addressed with improved memory management. This issue is fixed in iOS 17 and iPadOS 17, iOS 15.8.7 and iPadOS 15.8.7. An app may be able to execute arbitrary code with kernel privileges.

## Affected products (CVE record)

- Apple iOS and iPadOS: unspecified < 17
- Apple iOS and iPadOS: unspecified < 15.8.7

## Severity

- CISA-ADP CVSS 3.1: 7.8 `CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H`

## Exploitation

- CISA KEV: added 2026-03-05; federal due date 2026-03-26. Known ransomware use: Unknown.
- CISA required action: Apply mitigations per vendor instructions, follow applicable BOD 22-01 guidance for cloud services, or discontinue use of the product if mitigations are unavailable.
- CISA SSVC assessment: exploitation active , automatable no , technical impact total .
- FIRST EPSS (model of 2026-10-21): 1.96% probability of exploitation activity in the next 30 days; percentile 80.

## Sources

- [Listed in CISA KEV notes (support.apple.com)](https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT213938)
- [Listed in CISA KEV notes (support.apple.com)](https://support.apple.com/kb/HT213938)
- [CVE.org record CVE-2023-41974](https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2023-41974)
- [NVD entry CVE-2023-41974](https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-41974)
- [CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog entry](https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2023-41974)
- [support.apple.com](https://support.apple.com/en-us/120949)
- [support.apple.com](https://support.apple.com/en-us/126632)
- [cloud.google.com](https://cloud.google.com/blog/topics/threat-intelligence/coruna-powerful-ios-exploit-kit)

---
Source page: https://erroneo.us/security/cve/CVE-2023-41974/ · Security Digest: https://erroneo.us/security/ · More: https://erroneo.us/llms.txt