---
id: "CVE-2023-41990"
kind: "vulnerability"
aliases: ["CVE-2023-41990"]
title: "The issue was addressed with improved handling of caches"
severity: "high"
cvss: 7.8
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": ["16.3"], "affected": ">= 16.0, < 16.3", "ecosystem": "vendor"}, {"name": "apple iphone os", "fixed": ["15.7.8"], "affected": "< 15.7.8", "ecosystem": "vendor"}, {"name": "apple iphone os", "fixed": ["16.3"], "affected": ">= 16.0, < 16.3", "ecosystem": "vendor"}, {"name": "apple macos", "fixed": ["11.7.9"], "affected": "< 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": ["13.2"], "affected": ">= 13.0, < 13.2", "ecosystem": "vendor"}, {"name": "apple tvos", "fixed": ["16.3"], "affected": "< 16.3", "ecosystem": "vendor"}, {"name": "apple watchos", "fixed": ["9.3"], "affected": "< 9.3", "ecosystem": "vendor"}]
ecosystems: ["vendor"]
tags: ["apple", "exploited", "infrastructure", "ios", "ipados", "macos", "tvos", "watchos"]
not_affected_if: ["unknown"]
published_at: "2023-09-12T00:15:09+00:00"
first_seen_at: "2026-10-23T19:11:51+00:00"
updated_at: "2026-10-23T22:29:05+00:00"
sources: [{"source": "kev", "url": "https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?search_api_fulltext=CVE-2023-41990", "first_seen_at": "2026-10-23T19:11:51+00:00"}, {"source": "nvd", "url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-41990", "first_seen_at": "2026-10-23T22:29:05+00:00"}]
---

# The issue was addressed with improved handling of caches

Apple iOS, iPadOS, macOS, tvOS and watchOS contain an unspecified flaw in how they process font files. An attacker who gets a crafted font file processed can run code on the device.

_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, < 16.3 fixed 16.3
- vendor:apple iphone os affected < 15.7.8 fixed 15.7.8
- vendor:apple iphone os affected >= 16.0, < 16.3 fixed 16.3
- vendor:apple macos affected < 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, < 13.2 fixed 13.2
- vendor:apple tvos affected < 16.3 fixed 16.3
- vendor:apple watchos affected < 9.3 fixed 9.3

## How to check

Check the installed OS version on each Apple device (Settings > General > About, or sw_vers on macOS) and compare it against Apple's security notes for this CVE.

## Fix

Update iOS, iPadOS, macOS, tvOS and watchOS to a release that Apple lists as fixing CVE-2023-41990; the sources do not name the exact versions.
CISA says to apply the vendor mitigations or discontinue use of unpatched products.

## Timeline

- 2026-10-23T19:11:51+00:00 kev https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?search_api_fulltext=CVE-2023-41990
- 2026-10-23T22:29:05+00:00 nvd https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-41990

## From the sources

The issue was addressed with improved handling of caches. This issue is fixed in tvOS 16.3, iOS 16.3 and iPadOS 16.3, macOS Monterey 12.6.8, macOS Big Sur 11.7.9, iOS 15.7.8 and iPadOS 15.7.8, macOS Ventura 13.2, watchOS 9.3. Processing a font file may lead to arbitrary code execution. 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_