---
title: "CVE-2023-42824: Apple iOS and iPadOS Kernel Privilege Escalation Vulnerability"
url: https://erroneo.us/security/cve/CVE-2023-42824/
description: "CVE-2023-42824 (Apple iOS and iPadOS): Exploited in the wild (CISA KEV). The issue was addressed with improved checks. This issue is fixed in iOS 16.7.1 and…"
type: vulnerability-record
section: "Security Digest"
date_published: 2023-10-04
date_modified: 2025-11-04
publisher: erroneo.us
author: erroneo.us Security Desk
cve: "CVE-2023-42824"
kev: true
cvss: 7.8
epss: 0.00971
license: All rights reserved. Quote with attribution and a link.
---

# CVE-2023-42824: Apple iOS and iPadOS Kernel Privilege Escalation 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 2023-10-05, which means there is reliable evidence of exploitation in the wild. US federal agencies must remediate by 2023-10-26 ; treat that as the outer limit, not the target.
- EPSS 1.0% , percentile 62: FIRST’s model estimates a 1.0% chance of exploitation activity in the next 30 days, higher than 62% of all scored CVEs (moderate). 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

The issue was addressed with improved checks. This issue is fixed in iOS 16.7.1 and iPadOS 16.7.1. A local attacker may be able to elevate their privileges. Apple is aware of a report that this issue may have been actively exploited against versions of iOS before iOS 16.6.

## Affected products (CVE record)

- Apple iOS and iPadOS: unspecified < 16.7

## Severity

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

## Exploitation

- CISA KEV: added 2023-10-05; federal due date 2023-10-26. Known ransomware use: Unknown.
- CISA required action: Apply mitigations per vendor instructions 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): 0.97% probability of exploitation activity in the next 30 days; percentile 62.

## Sources

- [Listed in CISA KEV notes (support.apple.com)](https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT213961)
- [CVE.org record CVE-2023-42824](https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2023-42824)
- [NVD entry CVE-2023-42824](https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-42824)
- [CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog entry](https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2023-42824)
- [support.apple.com](https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT213972)
- [support.apple.com](https://support.apple.com/kb/HT213972)
- [support.apple.com](https://support.apple.com/kb/HT213961)

---
Source page: https://erroneo.us/security/cve/CVE-2023-42824/ · Security Digest: https://erroneo.us/security/ · More: https://erroneo.us/llms.txt