# CVE-2023-38606: Apple Multiple Products Kernel Unspecified Vulnerability

Source: https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2023-38606-apple-multiple-products-kernel-unspecified-vulnerability  
Publisher: Junglewise Threat Intelligence, https://junglewise.ai/threats  
Published: 2023-07-26. Updated: 2026-05-10  
License: CC BY 4.0 with a link back

CVE-2023-38606 · Severity: critical · CVSS 5.5 · Exploited in the wild · Published 2023-07-26

Apple iOS, iPadOS, macOS, tvOS, and watchOS contain an unspecified vulnerability in the kernel due to insufficient state management. A local application may exploit this flaw to modify sensitive kernel state, potentially bypassing security protections.

Technologies: [Apple Multiple Products](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/multiple-products). Vendors: [Apple](https://junglewise.ai/threats/vendors/apple).

## Quick answers

**Is CVE-2023-38606 exploited in the wild?** Yes. CVE-2023-38606 is known to be exploited in the wild, first recorded on 26 July 2023. Treat it as urgent.

**How severe is CVE-2023-38606?** Critical severity, with a CVSS score of 5.5, published 26 July 2023.

**Which products and versions are affected?** Apple iOS before 15.7.8, before 16.6; Apple iPadOS before 15.7.8, before 16.6; Apple macOS Monterey before 12.6.8; Apple macOS Big Sur before 11.7.9; and 3 more.

**Is there a fix for CVE-2023-38606?** A patch was published on 2023-07-26T00:00:00+00:00: Addressed in macOS Monterey 12.6.8, iOS 15.7.8, iPadOS 15.7.8, iOS 16.6, iPadOS 16.6, tvOS 16.6, macOS Big Sur 11.7.9, macOS Ventura 13.5, and watchOS 9.6. Junglewise finds every place you run it, drafts the upgrade and applies it once you approve.

**How is CVE-2023-38606 attacked?** It is attacked with local access, in an operating system.

**Am I affected by CVE-2023-38606?** Check whether you run Apple Multiple Products. Junglewise does that check for you around the clock: connect your code, cloud and domains, and it matches new vulnerabilities like this one against what you actually run and tells you when one reaches you.

## Affected products

- Apple iOS before 15.7.8, before 16.6
- Apple iPadOS before 15.7.8, before 16.6
- Apple macOS Monterey before 12.6.8
- Apple macOS Big Sur before 11.7.9
- Apple macOS Ventura before 13.5
- Apple tvOS before 16.6
- Apple watchOS before 9.6

## Timeline

- 2023-07-26: disclosed
- 2023-07-26: kev added: Added to CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities Catalog
- 2023-07-26: patched: Addressed in macOS Monterey 12.6.8, iOS 15.7.8, iPadOS 15.7.8, iOS 16.6, iPadOS 16.6, tvOS 16.6, macOS Big Sur 11.7.9, macOS Ventura 13.5, and watchOS 9.6.
- exploited: Apple is aware of reports that this issue may have been actively exploited against versions of iOS released before iOS 15.7.1.

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