CVE-2023-41061: Technical Deep-Dive (Auto Refreshed)

Generated on 2026-03-26T17:54:14.745Z. This file is automatically regenerated every 30 minutes by the CVE AI enrichment job using web sources (NVD, MITRE, CISA KEV, GitHub).

Executive Technical Summary

A validation issue was addressed with improved logic. This issue is fixed in watchOS 9.6.2, iOS 16.6.1 and iPadOS 16.6.1. A maliciously crafted attachment may result in arbitrary code execution. Apple is aware of a report that this issue may have been actively exploited.

• Context preserved from previous revision: A validation issue was addressed with improved logic. This issue is fixed in watchOS 9.6.2, iOS 16.6.1 and iPadOS 16.6.1. A maliciously crafted attachment may result in arbitrary code execution. Apple is aware of a report that this issue may have been actively exploited. 1. Use only isolated environments and systems you own or are explicitly authorized to test.

Technical Details

• CVE: CVE-2023-41061
• KEV date added: 2023-09-11
• KEV due date: 2023-10-02
• NVD published: 2023-09-07
• NVD modified: 2025-10-23
• MITRE modified: 2025-10-21
• CVSS base score: 7.8
• CVSS vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
• CVSS exploitability score: 1.8
• CVSS impact score: 5.9
• Attack vector: Local
• Attack complexity: Low
• Privileges required: None
• User interaction: Required
• Scope: Unchanged
• Confidentiality impact: High
• Integrity impact: High
• Availability impact: High

Versions and Products Impacted

• apple / ipados (versions: < 16.6.1)
• apple / iphone os (versions: < 16.6.1)
• apple / watchos (versions: < 9.6.2)
• Apple / iOS and iPadOS (versions: unspecified)
• Apple / watchOS (versions: unspecified)
• apple / ipados (versions: 0)
• apple / iphone_os (versions: 0)
• apple / watchos (versions: 0)

Weakness Classification

• NVD-CWE-noinfo
• CWE-20
• A maliciously crafted attachment may result in arbitrary code execution. Apple is aware of a report that this issue may have been actively exploited.

Repositories for Lab Validation (Public Examples)

• Ostorlab/KEV | stars: 608 | updated: 2026-03-23 | https://github.com/Ostorlab/KEV
  Notes: Ostorlab KEV: One-command to detect most remotely known exploitable vulnerabilities. Sourced from CISA KEV, Google's Tsunami, Ostorlab's Asteroid and Bug Bounty programs.
• houjingyi233/macOS-iOS-system-security | stars: 549 | updated: 2026-03-16 | https://github.com/houjingyi233/macOS-iOS-system-security
  Notes: Here is some resources about macOS/iOS system security.
• Proteas/apple-cve | stars: 164 | updated: 2026-03-25 | https://github.com/Proteas/apple-cve
  Notes: apple cve list
• 0xcrypto/apple-cves | stars: 0 | updated: 2026-03-22 | https://github.com/0xcrypto/apple-cves

People and Organizations Mentioned

• apple
• iOS, iPadOS, and watchOS
• Ostorlab
• houjingyi233
• Proteas
• 0xcrypto

Practical Defensive Validation (Authorized Only)

1. Use only isolated environments and systems you own or are explicitly authorized to test.
2. Snapshot infrastructure before validation and preserve baseline logs (EDR, SIEM, OS, app).
3. Use apple / ipados (versions: < 16.6.1) in isolated VM snapshots (vulnerable vs patched) and compare process tree telemetry before/after updates.
4. Validate command-execution prevention policies (AppLocker/WDAC/EDR) with harmless test binaries only.
5. Create SIEM detections for suspicious parent-child chains, encoded command usage, and abnormal service creation.

References

• NVD record: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-41061
• MITRE CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2023-41061
• CISA KEV Catalog: https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog
• CISA KEV JSON feed: https://www.cisa.gov/sites/default/files/feeds/known_exploited_vulnerabilities.json
• KEV notes: https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT213905, https://support.apple.com/kb/HT213907; https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-41061
• http://seclists.org/fulldisclosure/2023/Sep/4
• http://seclists.org/fulldisclosure/2023/Sep/5
• https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT213905
• https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT213907
• https://support.apple.com/kb/HT213905
• https://support.apple.com/kb/HT213907
• https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2023-41061
• Repository example: https://github.com/Ostorlab/KEV
• Repository example: https://github.com/houjingyi233/macOS-iOS-system-security
• Repository example: https://github.com/Proteas/apple-cve
• Repository example: https://github.com/0xcrypto/apple-cves

This content is for defensive security training and authorized validation only.