CVE-2023-41993: Apple Multiple Products WebKit Code Execution Vulnerability

Patch now

HIGH 8.8EXPLOITEDWATCHLISTUPGRADEUPGRADEUPGRADE

CVE-2023-41993 is a high-severity flaw (CVSS 8.8) affecting ipados, iphone os, macos, reported as exploited in the wild. Below: why it ranks where it does, which versions are affected, what to do, and the exact commands.

The issue was addressed with improved checks. This issue is fixed in macOS Sonoma 14. Processing web content may lead to arbitrary code execution. Apple is aware of a report that this issue may have been actively exploited against versions of iOS before iOS 16.7.

Why this priority

High severity
EPSS top 2%: very likely to be exploited
Exploited in the wild (CISA KEV)
Public exploit reference
On your watchlist

A fixed release or distro patch exists.

Risk facts

CVSS score	8.8 (High)
Attack vector	Network (remote)
Attack complexity	Low
Privileges needed	None
User interaction	Required
EPSS exploit chance	24.3% (top 2%)
CISA exploited list	Yes, fix due 2023-10-16
Weakness	CWE-754
Published	2023-09-21
Last modified	2026-06-17

Publisher (CNA): Apple Inc. · Vendor: apple · debian · fedoraproject · oracle

Last updated 2026-06-17 · Sources: CVE Program, NVD, CISA KEV, EPSS and vendor advisories · How we score

Am I affected?

Timeline

2023-09-21 19:15 UTCPublished CVE record published
2023-09-25Exploited Added to the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities list
2023-10-16Deadline CISA due date for US federal agencies to patch
2026-06-17 06:23 UTCUpdated Record last modified

apple ipados UPGRADE

Affected: < 17.0.1

Fixed in: 17.0.1

Safe to downgrade to: no unaffected older release

Check your OS release

cat /etc/os-release; uname -r

Debian / Ubuntu

sudo apt update && sudo apt full-upgrade

RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora

sudo dnf upgrade --refresh

Windows

Install the latest cumulative update from Windows Update

If no patch exists yet

OS downgrades are not safe. Apply the vendor mitigation from the advisory and restrict exposure.

apple iphone os UPGRADE

Affected: < 17.0.1

Fixed in: 17.0.1

Safe to downgrade to: no unaffected older release

Check your OS release

cat /etc/os-release; uname -r

Debian / Ubuntu

sudo apt update && sudo apt full-upgrade

RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora

sudo dnf upgrade --refresh

Windows

Install the latest cumulative update from Windows Update

If no patch exists yet

OS downgrades are not safe. Apply the vendor mitigation from the advisory and restrict exposure.

apple macos UPGRADE

Affected: < 14.0

Fixed in: 14.0

Safe to downgrade to: no unaffected older release

Check your OS release

cat /etc/os-release; uname -r

Debian / Ubuntu

sudo apt update && sudo apt full-upgrade

RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora

sudo dnf upgrade --refresh

Windows

Install the latest cumulative update from Windows Update

If no patch exists yet

OS downgrades are not safe. Apply the vendor mitigation from the advisory and restrict exposure.

fedoraproject fedora MITIGATE

Affected: 37 · 38 · 39

Fixed in: no fixed release known

Safe to downgrade to: a release before 37

Check your OS release

cat /etc/os-release; uname -r

Debian / Ubuntu

sudo apt update && sudo apt full-upgrade

RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora

sudo dnf upgrade --refresh

Windows

Install the latest cumulative update from Windows Update

If no patch exists yet

OS downgrades are not safe. Apply the vendor mitigation from the advisory and restrict exposure.

debian debian linux MITIGATE

Affected: 11.0 · 12.0

Fixed in: no fixed release known

Safe to downgrade to: a release before 11.0

Check your OS release

cat /etc/os-release; uname -r

Debian / Ubuntu

sudo apt update && sudo apt full-upgrade

RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora

sudo dnf upgrade --refresh

Windows

Install the latest cumulative update from Windows Update

If no patch exists yet

OS downgrades are not safe. Apply the vendor mitigation from the advisory and restrict exposure.

oracle graalvm DOWNGRADE

Affected: 20.3.13 · 21.3.9

Fixed in: no fixed release known

Safe to downgrade to: a release before 20.3.13

1. Check installed version

apt-cache policy graalvm || rpm -q graalvm || graalvm --version

2. No fixed release: DOWNGRADE to a release before 20.3.13 (Debian / Ubuntu)

apt-cache madison graalvm sudo apt install graalvm=<VERSION_BEFORE_20.3.13> sudo apt-mark hold graalvm

2. No fixed release: DOWNGRADE (RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora)

dnf --showduplicates list graalvm sudo dnf downgrade graalvm-<VERSION_BEFORE_20.3.13> sudo dnf versionlock add graalvm

Downgrade risk

Downgrading can break dependent software and may reopen older bugs. Read the distro advisory first and test on a non-production host.

After downgrade

Restart the service, and keep the package held until a fixed release ships.

Exact fixes by distribution

A distro patch exists: prefer upgrading over downgrading.

Fedora ELN · libmamba · FIXED · 2.10.0-1.eln159 · FEDORA-2026-cc57be9e65 · source

sudo dnf upgrade --advisory=FEDORA-2026-cc57be9e65

Fedora 46 · rubygem-selenium-webdriver · FIXED · 4.34.0-5.fc46 · FEDORA-2026-111c6e6363 · source

sudo dnf upgrade --advisory=FEDORA-2026-111c6e6363

Ubuntu 22.04 · webkit2gtk · FIXED · 2.42.1-0ubuntu0.22.04.1

sudo apt update && sudo apt install --only-upgrade webkit2gtk dpkg --compare-versions "$(dpkg-query -W -f='${Version}' webkit2gtk)" ge "2.42.1-0ubuntu0.22.04.1" && echo PATCHED || echo STILL-VULNERABLE

Ubuntu 24.04 · webkit2gtk · NOT AFFECTED

Debian 12 · webkit2gtk · FIXED · 2.42.1-1~deb12u1

sudo apt update && sudo apt install --only-upgrade webkit2gtk dpkg --compare-versions "$(dpkg-query -W -f='${Version}' webkit2gtk)" ge "2.42.1-1~deb12u1" && echo PATCHED || echo STILL-VULNERABLE

Debian 13 · webkit2gtk · FIXED · 2.42.1-1

sudo apt update && sudo apt install --only-upgrade webkit2gtk dpkg --compare-versions "$(dpkg-query -W -f='${Version}' webkit2gtk)" ge "2.42.1-1" && echo PATCHED || echo STILL-VULNERABLE

Debian 12 · wpewebkit · NO FIX YET

Debian 13 · wpewebkit · FIXED · 2.42.1-1

sudo apt update && sudo apt install --only-upgrade wpewebkit dpkg --compare-versions "$(dpkg-query -W -f='${Version}' wpewebkit)" ge "2.42.1-1" && echo PATCHED || echo STILL-VULNERABLE

RHEL 7 Extended Lifecycle Support · webkitgtk4 · FIXED · webkitgtk4-2.48.3-2.el7_9

sudo dnf upgrade --advisory=RHSA-2025:10364 rpm -q webkitgtk4

RHEL 8 · webkit2gtk3 · FIXED · webkit2gtk3-2.38.5-1.el8_8.5

sudo dnf upgrade --advisory=RHSA-2023:4202 rpm -q webkit2gtk3

RHEL 9 · webkit2gtk3 · FIXED · webkit2gtk3-2.38.5-1.el9_2.3

sudo dnf upgrade --advisory=RHSA-2023:4201 rpm -q webkit2gtk3

RHEL 6 · webkitgtk · DEFERRED

RHEL 7 · webkitgtk3 · DEFERRED

Amazon Linux 2 · see advisory · FIXED · ALAS2-2024-2427 · source

sudo yum update --advisory=ALAS2-2024-2427

Public exploits and detection

Public code exists for this CVE. Treat unpatched systems as at risk, and only run PoCs in a lab.

GitHub PoC: po6ix/POC-for-CVE-2023-41993 (203 stars)
GitHub PoC: hrtowii/cve-2023-41993-test (16 stars)
GitHub PoC: 0x06060606/CVE-2023-41993 (5 stars)
GitHub PoC: J3Ss0u/CVE-2023-41993

Advisories and coverage

Official advisories

IPA Japan Security Alerts: Oracle Java の脆弱性対策について(CVE-2023-41993等) 2024-04-16

Verify at the official source NVD · CVE Program · CISA KEV catalog · Report a problem with this page
Scores and fixes here are computed automatically from those and other public sources. Confirm with the vendor advisory before changing production systems.

Quick answers

How do I fix CVE-2023-41993?

ipados: upgrade to 17.0.1; iphone os: upgrade to 17.0.1; macos: upgrade to 14.0. Exact commands for each OS are on this page.

Is CVE-2023-41993 being exploited?

Yes. CVE-2023-41993 is on the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities list, so treat it as patch-now.

What does CVE-2023-41993 affect?

CVE-2023-41993 affects ipados, iphone os, macos. Severity is high (CVSS 8.8). The issue was addressed with improved checks. This issue is fixed in macOS Sonoma 14. Processing web content may lead to arbitrary code execution. Apple is aware of a report that this issue may have been actively exploited against versions

How urgent is CVE-2023-41993?

Priority 90/100. High severity; EPSS top 2%: very likely to be exploited; Exploited in the wild (CISA KEV); Public exploit reference; On your watchlist

Software pages

Debian vulnerabilities · iOS vulnerabilities · macOS vulnerabilities · WebKit vulnerabilities · Apple Safari and WebKit vulnerabilities · iPadOS vulnerabilities

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References

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