CVE Vulnerabilities

CVE-2023-42942

Improper Link Resolution Before File Access ('Link Following')

Published: Feb 21, 2024 | Modified: Dec 12, 2024
CVSS 3.x
7.8
HIGH
Source:
NVD
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
CVSS 2.x
RedHat/V2
RedHat/V3
Ubuntu

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

The product attempts to access a file based on the filename, but it does not properly prevent that filename from identifying a link or shortcut that resolves to an unintended resource.

Affected Software

Name Vendor Start Version End Version
Ipad_os Apple * 16.7.2 (excluding)
Ipados Apple 17.0 (including) 17.0 (including)
Iphone_os Apple * 16.7.2 (excluding)
Iphone_os Apple 17.0 (including) 17.0 (including)
Macos Apple 13.0 (including) 13.6.1 (excluding)
Macos Apple 14.0 (including) 14.0 (including)
Tvos Apple * 17.1 (including)
Watchos Apple * 10.1 (excluding)

Potential Mitigations

  • Follow the principle of least privilege when assigning access rights to entities in a software system.
  • Denying access to a file can prevent an attacker from replacing that file with a link to a sensitive file. Ensure good compartmentalization in the system to provide protected areas that can be trusted.

References