---
id: "CVE-2023-28205"
kind: "vulnerability"
aliases: ["CVE-2023-28205"]
title: "A use after free issue was addressed with improved memory management"
severity: "critical"
cvss: 8.8
epss: null
exploited: true
status: "open"
category: "vendor"
products: [{"name": "Apple Multiple Products", "fixed": [], "affected": "", "ecosystem": "vendor"}, {"name": "apple safari", "fixed": ["16.4.1"], "affected": "< 16.4.1", "ecosystem": "vendor"}, {"name": "apple ipados", "fixed": ["15.7.5"], "affected": "< 15.7.5", "ecosystem": "vendor"}, {"name": "apple ipados", "fixed": ["16.4.1"], "affected": ">= 16.0, < 16.4.1", "ecosystem": "vendor"}, {"name": "apple iphone os", "fixed": ["15.7.5"], "affected": "< 15.7.5", "ecosystem": "vendor"}, {"name": "apple iphone os", "fixed": ["16.4.1"], "affected": ">= 16.0, < 16.4.1", "ecosystem": "vendor"}, {"name": "apple macos", "fixed": ["13.3.1"], "affected": "< 13.3.1", "ecosystem": "vendor"}]
ecosystems: ["vendor"]
tags: ["apps-embedding-webkit", "exploited", "ios", "ipados", "macos", "safari", "vendor", "webkit"]
not_affected_if: ["unpatched-os-not-in-use"]
published_at: "2023-04-10T00:00:00+00:00"
first_seen_at: "2026-10-23T19:11:52+00:00"
updated_at: "2026-10-23T22:29:04+00:00"
sources: [{"source": "kev", "url": "https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?search_api_fulltext=CVE-2023-28205", "first_seen_at": "2026-10-23T19:11:52+00:00"}, {"source": "nvd", "url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-28205", "first_seen_at": "2026-10-23T22:29:04+00:00"}]
---

# A use after free issue was addressed with improved memory management

A use-after-free bug in Apple's WebKit engine, used by iOS, iPadOS, macOS and Safari, lets malicious web content run code. CISA lists it as actively exploited in the wild.

_Summary, check and fix written by a model from the sources; labelled as such._

## Affected

- vendor:Apple Multiple Products affected ? fixed ?
- vendor:apple safari affected < 16.4.1 fixed 16.4.1
- vendor:apple ipados affected < 15.7.5 fixed 15.7.5
- vendor:apple ipados affected >= 16.0, < 16.4.1 fixed 16.4.1
- vendor:apple iphone os affected < 15.7.5 fixed 15.7.5
- vendor:apple iphone os affected >= 16.0, < 16.4.1 fixed 16.4.1
- vendor:apple macos affected < 13.3.1 fixed 13.3.1

## How to check

Check the device OS version under Settings > General > About (iOS/iPadOS) or Apple menu > About This Mac (macOS) and compare it to Apple's security notes; unknown for fleet-wide checks.

## Fix

Update iOS, iPadOS, macOS and Safari to a release that includes the Apple fix for CVE-2023-28205, per vendor instructions; unknown for the exact build number in the sources.

## Timeline

- 2026-10-23T19:11:52+00:00 kev https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?search_api_fulltext=CVE-2023-28205
- 2026-10-23T22:29:04+00:00 nvd https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-28205

## From the sources

Apple iOS, iPadOS, macOS, and Safari WebKit contain a use-after-free vulnerability that leads to code execution when processing maliciously crafted web content. This vulnerability could impact HTML parsers that use WebKit, including but not limited to Apple Safari and non-Apple products which rely on WebKit for HTML processing.

CISA required action: Apply updates per vendor instructions.

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_Free to read at a human pace. An API with keys and an MCP server are in preparation; early access: hello@infrastack.ai_