Cyber Resilience

CVE-2023-23503

Auth Bypass in Apple Ipados ≤ 15.7.3

Published
27 February 2023
Modified
12 March 2025
Patch / advisory
CVSS Score v3.1 5.5
Click a component to see what it means
Raw vectorCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:N
EPSS Score 0.0022 12th percentile
Risk Priority 35 floored blend · peak EPSS

Summary

CVE-2023-23503 is a medium-severity Authentication Bypass Using an Alternate Path or Channel (CWE-288) vulnerability in Apple Ipados. Its CVSS base score is 5.5 (Medium).

Operationally, ranked at the 12th percentile by exploit likelihood (below the median); it is not currently listed in the CISA KEV catalog.

OWASP Top 10 for Web (2025)

EU & UK References

Vulnerability Data

A logic issue was addressed with improved state management. This issue is fixed in macOS Ventura 13.2, iOS 16.3 and iPadOS 16.3, iOS 15.7.3 and iPadOS 15.7.3, tvOS 16.3, watchOS 9.3. An app may be able to bypass Privacy preferences.

CWE(s)

Related Threats

CVEs Like This One

CVE-2025-43436Same product: Apple Ipados
CVE-2025-24206Same product: Apple Ipados
CVE-2022-48618Same product: Apple Ipados
CVE-2023-23502Same product: Apple Ipados
CVE-2023-28191Same product: Apple Ipados
CVE-2021-30883Same product: Apple Ipados
CVE-2026-20687Same product: Apple Ipados
CVE-2023-40432Same product: Apple Ipados
CVE-2023-27937Same product: Apple Ipados
CVE-2023-32381Same product: Apple Ipados

Affected Assets

apple
ipados
≤ 15.7.3 · 16.0 — 16.3
apple
iphone os
≤ 15.7.3 · 16.0 — 16.3
apple
macos
≤ 13.2
apple
tvos
≤ 16.3
apple
watchos
≤ 9.3

Mitigating Controls

Control response

Prevent
Stop it (NIST 800-53)

Detect
Catch it (NIST detect / respond)

Harden
Shrink the surface (DISA STIG)
  • 7 hardening rules · 3 OS baselines
Validate
Prove the fix (OWASP ASVS)
  • V6.4.3
  • V6.6.1
  • V12.1.3

Likely Mitigating Controls AI

Per-CVE control mapping for this CVE has not run yet; the list below is derived from the weakness types (CWEs) cited in the NVD entry.

addresses: CWE-288

Authorizing remote access reduces the ability to bypass authentication via unauthorized alternate remote channels.

addresses: CWE-288

Users can identify logons via alternate paths or channels by reviewing the previous logon time.

addresses: CWE-288

Adaptive requirements can apply across access paths, reducing the ability to bypass authentication via alternate channels or paths.

addresses: CWE-288

Centralized IdPs close alternate authentication paths that enable bypass.

addresses: CWE-288

Enforces authentication for non-organizational users, making it harder to bypass via alternate paths or channels.

addresses: CWE-288

Requires authentication to occur exclusively over the isolated trusted path, directly preventing bypass via alternate or untrusted channels.

Mitigating Controls (NIST CSF 2.0) AI

Derived directly from the weakness types (CWEs) cited in the NVD entry via our AI-authored CWE→CSF cross-walk (authority under review) — links open the control.

PR.AA-03 full match
prevents

Requiring authentication on every channel and path directly eliminates alternate-path bypasses.

PR.AA-05 mostly match
prevents

Enforcing authorizations and least privilege across all access vectors prevents unauthenticated alternate paths.

PR.IR-01 mostly match
prevents

Protecting networks and environments from unauthorized logical access blocks bypass via undocumented channels.

Mitigating Controls (ISO/IEC 27001:2022 Annex A) AI

Derived directly from the weakness types (CWEs) cited in the NVD entry via our AI-authored CWE→ISO cross-walk (authority under review) — links open the control.

detects

Security testing can detect alternate-path bypasses but does not prevent them in production.

degrades

Secure authentication control directly mitigates bypass by requiring strong, consistent authentication on all paths.

prevents

Access control policy directly addresses alternate authentication paths by requiring all channels to enforce authentication.

degrades

Authentication information management ensures credentials and mechanisms are consistently applied across all access paths.

prevents

Access rights provisioning and review prevent bypass via unmonitored or alternate channels.

prevents

Privileged access rights control reduces risk of bypass through elevated or alternate paths.

References