---
id: "CVE-2023-38606"
kind: "vulnerability"
aliases: ["CVE-2023-38606"]
title: "This issue was addressed with improved state management"
severity: "high"
cvss: 5.5
epss: null
exploited: true
status: "open"
category: "infrastructure"
products: [{"name": "Apple Multiple Products", "fixed": [], "affected": "", "ecosystem": "vendor"}, {"name": "apple ipados", "fixed": ["15.7.8"], "affected": "< 15.7.8", "ecosystem": "vendor"}, {"name": "apple ipados", "fixed": ["16.6"], "affected": ">= 16.0, < 16.6", "ecosystem": "vendor"}, {"name": "apple iphone os", "fixed": ["15.7.8"], "affected": "< 15.7.8", "ecosystem": "vendor"}, {"name": "apple iphone os", "fixed": ["16.6"], "affected": ">= 16.0, < 16.6", "ecosystem": "vendor"}, {"name": "apple macos", "fixed": ["11.7.9"], "affected": ">= 11.0, < 11.7.9", "ecosystem": "vendor"}, {"name": "apple macos", "fixed": ["12.6.8"], "affected": ">= 12.0.0, < 12.6.8", "ecosystem": "vendor"}, {"name": "apple macos", "fixed": ["13.5"], "affected": ">= 13.0, < 13.5", "ecosystem": "vendor"}, {"name": "apple tvos", "fixed": ["16.6"], "affected": "< 16.6", "ecosystem": "vendor"}, {"name": "apple watchos", "fixed": ["9.6"], "affected": "< 9.6", "ecosystem": "vendor"}]
ecosystems: ["vendor"]
tags: ["apple", "exploited", "infrastructure", "ios", "ipados", "macos", "tvos", "watchos"]
not_affected_if: ["fully-patched-devices"]
published_at: "2023-07-26T00:00:00+00:00"
first_seen_at: "2026-10-23T19:11:51+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-2023-38606", "first_seen_at": "2026-10-23T19:11:51+00:00"}, {"source": "nvd", "url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-38606", "first_seen_at": "2026-10-23T22:29:04+00:00"}]
---

# This issue was addressed with improved state management

An unspecified flaw in the Apple kernel on iOS, iPadOS, macOS, tvOS and watchOS lets an app modify sensitive kernel state. Attackers are exploiting it in the wild, according to CISA.

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

## Affected

- vendor:Apple Multiple Products affected ? fixed ?
- vendor:apple ipados affected < 15.7.8 fixed 15.7.8
- vendor:apple ipados affected >= 16.0, < 16.6 fixed 16.6
- vendor:apple iphone os affected < 15.7.8 fixed 15.7.8
- vendor:apple iphone os affected >= 16.0, < 16.6 fixed 16.6
- vendor:apple macos affected >= 11.0, < 11.7.9 fixed 11.7.9
- vendor:apple macos affected >= 12.0.0, < 12.6.8 fixed 12.6.8
- vendor:apple macos affected >= 13.0, < 13.5 fixed 13.5
- vendor:apple tvos affected < 16.6 fixed 16.6
- vendor:apple watchos affected < 9.6 fixed 9.6

## Fix

Apply Apple's vendor mitigations or update to a patched OS version; the sources do not name the exact version. Discontinue use of unpatched devices if mitigations are unavailable, per CISA.

## Timeline

- 2026-10-23T19:11:51+00:00 kev https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?search_api_fulltext=CVE-2023-38606
- 2026-10-23T22:29:04+00:00 nvd https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-38606

## From the sources

This issue was addressed with improved state management. This issue is fixed in macOS Monterey 12.6.8, iOS 15.7.8 and iPadOS 15.7.8, iOS 16.6 and iPadOS 16.6, tvOS 16.6, macOS Big Sur 11.7.9, macOS Ventura 13.5, watchOS 9.6. An app may be able to modify sensitive kernel state. Apple is aware of a report that this issue may have been actively exploited against versions of iOS released before iOS 15.7.1.

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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_