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CVE-2023-42916: Apple Multiple Products WebKit Out-of-Bounds Read Vulnerability

77
Patch now
MEDIUM 6.5EXPLOITEDWATCHLISTUPGRADEUPGRADEUPGRADE

CVE-2023-42916 is a medium-severity flaw (CVSS 6.5) affecting safari, ipados, iphone os, reported as exploited in the wild. Below: why it ranks where it does, which versions are affected, what to do, and the exact commands.

An out-of-bounds read was addressed with improved input validation. This issue is fixed in iOS 17.1.2 and iPadOS 17.1.2, macOS Sonoma 14.1.2, Safari 17.1.2. Processing web content may disclose sensitive information. Apple is aware of a report that this issue may have been exploited against versions of iOS before iOS 16.7.1.

Why this priority

  • EPSS top 3%: very likely to be exploited
  • Exploited in the wild (CISA KEV)
  • On your watchlist

A fixed release or distro patch exists.

Risk facts

CVSS score6.5 (Medium)
Attack vectorNetwork (remote)
Attack complexityLow
Privileges neededNone
User interactionRequired
EPSS exploit chance17.8% (top 3%)
CISA exploited listYes, fix due 2023-12-25
WeaknessCWE-125
Published2023-11-30
Last modified2026-06-17
Publisher (CNA): Apple Inc. · Vendor: apple · debian · fedoraproject

Share: LinkedIn · X · Reddit

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

Am I affected?

Timeline

apple safari UPGRADE
Affected: < 17.1.2
Fixed in: 17.1.2
Safe to downgrade to: no unaffected older release
1. Check installed version
apt-cache policy safari || rpm -q safari || safari --version
2. UPGRADE to 17.1.2 (Debian / Ubuntu)
sudo apt update && sudo apt install --only-upgrade safari
2. UPGRADE (RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora)
sudo dnf upgrade safari
Note
Distros often backport fixes without changing the version number. Confirm with the distro advisory or changelog.
apple ipados UPGRADE
Affected: < 15.8.1 · >= 16.0 and < 16.7.3 · >= 17.0 and < 17.1.2
Fixed in: 15.8.1, 16.7.3, 17.1.2
Safe to downgrade to: a release before 16.0
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.
apple iphone os UPGRADE
Affected: < 15.8.1 · >= 16.0 and < 16.7.3 · >= 17.0 and < 17.1.2
Fixed in: 15.8.1, 16.7.3, 17.1.2
Safe to downgrade to: a release before 16.0
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.
apple macos UPGRADE
Affected: >= 14.0 and < 14.1.2
Fixed in: 14.1.2
Safe to downgrade to: a release before 14.0
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.
fedoraproject fedora MITIGATE
Affected: 38 · 39
Fixed in: no fixed release known
Safe to downgrade to: a release before 38
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.

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 · 2.42.3-0ubuntu0.22.04.1
sudo apt update && sudo apt install --only-upgrade webkit2gtk dpkg --compare-versions "$(dpkg-query -W -f='${Version}' webkit2gtk)" ge "2.42.3-0ubuntu0.22.04.1" && echo PATCHED || echo STILL-VULNERABLE
Ubuntu 24.04 · webkit2gtk · FIXED · 2.42.3-1
sudo apt update && sudo apt install --only-upgrade webkit2gtk dpkg --compare-versions "$(dpkg-query -W -f='${Version}' webkit2gtk)" ge "2.42.3-1" && echo PATCHED || echo STILL-VULNERABLE
Debian 12 · webkit2gtk · FIXED · 2.42.3-1~deb12u1
sudo apt update && sudo apt install --only-upgrade webkit2gtk dpkg --compare-versions "$(dpkg-query -W -f='${Version}' webkit2gtk)" ge "2.42.3-1~deb12u1" && echo PATCHED || echo STILL-VULNERABLE
Debian 13 · webkit2gtk · FIXED · 2.42.3-1
sudo apt update && sudo apt install --only-upgrade webkit2gtk dpkg --compare-versions "$(dpkg-query -W -f='${Version}' webkit2gtk)" ge "2.42.3-1" && echo PATCHED || echo STILL-VULNERABLE
Debian 12 · wpewebkit · NO FIX YET
Debian 13 · wpewebkit · FIXED · 2.42.3-1
sudo apt update && sudo apt install --only-upgrade wpewebkit dpkg --compare-versions "$(dpkg-query -W -f='${Version}' wpewebkit)" ge "2.42.3-1" && 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
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-2023-42916?

safari: upgrade to 17.1.2; ipados: upgrade to 15.8.1, 16.7.3, 17.1.2; iphone os: upgrade to 15.8.1, 16.7.3, 17.1.2. Exact commands for each OS are on this page.

Is CVE-2023-42916 being exploited?

Yes. CVE-2023-42916 is on the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities list, so treat it as patch-now.

What does CVE-2023-42916 affect?

CVE-2023-42916 affects safari, ipados, iphone os. Severity is medium (CVSS 6.5). An out-of-bounds read was addressed with improved input validation. This issue is fixed in iOS 17.1.2 and iPadOS 17.1.2, macOS Sonoma 14.1.2, Safari 17.1.2. Processing web content may disclose sensitive information. Apple is aware of a repo

How urgent is CVE-2023-42916?

Priority 77/100. EPSS top 3%: very likely to be exploited; Exploited in the wild (CISA KEV); On your watchlist

Software pages

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

Related CVEs

References

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