CVE-2023-41974: Apple iOS and iPadOS Use-After-Free Vulnerability (Pentest Lab Guide)

CVE-2023-41974: Technical Deep-Dive (Auto Refreshed)

Generated on 2026-03-23T13:48:39.427Z. 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 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.

Context preserved from previous revision: 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. Notes: iOS kernel exploit for iOS 14 and 15

Technical Details

CVE: CVE-2023-41974
KEV date added: Unknown
KEV due date: Not specified
NVD published: 2024-01-11
NVD modified: 2026-03-12
MITRE modified: 2026-03-12
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: < 15.8.7)
apple / ipados (versions: >= 16.0, < 17.0)
apple / iphone os (versions: < 15.8.7)
apple / iphone os (versions: >= 16.0, < 17.0)
Apple / iOS and iPadOS (versions: unspecified)

Weakness Classification

CWE-416
An app may be able to execute arbitrary code with kernel privileges

Repositories for Lab Validation (Public Examples)

alfiecg24/Vertex | stars: 107 | updated: 2026-03-19 | https://github.com/alfiecg24/Vertex
Notes: iOS kernel exploit for iOS 14 and 15
Rat5ak/CORUNA_TECHNICAL_ANALYSIS | stars: 41 | updated: 2026-03-21 | https://github.com/Rat5ak/CORUNA_TECHNICAL_ANALYSIS
Notes: A Complete Technical Teardown of a State-Grade iOS/macOS Watering-Hole Exploit Chain
zeroxjf/iOS-Coruna-Reconstruction | stars: 35 | updated: 2026-03-23 | https://github.com/zeroxjf/iOS-Coruna-Reconstruction
Notes: Reverse-engineering reconstruction of the Coruna iOS exploit kit (iOS 16/17 chains)
Lrdsnow/PureKFD5 | stars: 8 | updated: 2025-12-01 | https://github.com/Lrdsnow/PureKFD5
Notes: PureKFD v5 Revamped (An exploit based Jailed Package Manager for iOS 14.0-16.6.1)
0xcrypto/apple-cves | stars: 0 | updated: 2026-03-22 | https://github.com/0xcrypto/apple-cves

People and Organizations Mentioned

apple
alfiecg24
Rat5ak
zeroxjf
Lrdsnow
0xcrypto

Practical Defensive Validation (Authorized Only)

Use only isolated environments and systems you own or are explicitly authorized to test.
Snapshot infrastructure before validation and preserve baseline logs (EDR, SIEM, OS, app).
Inventory apple / ipados (versions: < 15.8.7) assets and confirm exact vulnerable versions with automated checks.
Patch in staged environments and validate closure with scanners + service health checks.
Map detections to MITRE ATT&CK tactics relevant to your environment and tune alert quality.

References

NVD record: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-41974
MITRE CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2023-41974
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
https://support.apple.com/en-us/120949
https://support.apple.com/en-us/126632
https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT213938
https://support.apple.com/kb/HT213938
https://cloud.google.com/blog/topics/threat-intelligence/coruna-powerful-ios-exploit-kit
https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2023-41974
Repository example: https://github.com/alfiecg24/Vertex
Repository example: https://github.com/Rat5ak/CORUNA_TECHNICAL_ANALYSIS
Repository example: https://github.com/zeroxjf/iOS-Coruna-Reconstruction
Repository example: https://github.com/Lrdsnow/PureKFD5
Repository example: https://github.com/0xcrypto/apple-cves

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