Cyber Resilience

CVE-2023-40393

High

Published: 10 January 2024

Published
10 January 2024
Modified
04 November 2025
KEV Added
Patch
CVSS Score v3.1 7.5 CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N
EPSS Score 0.0027 50.6th percentile
Risk Priority 15 60% EPSS · 20% KEV · 20% CVSS

Summary

CVE-2023-40393 is a high-severity Missing Authentication for Critical Function (CWE-306) vulnerability in Apple Macos. Its CVSS base score is 7.5 (High).

Operationally, ranked in the top 49.4% of CVEs by exploit likelihood; it is not currently listed in the CISA KEV catalog.

EU & UK References

Vulnerability details

An authentication issue was addressed with improved state management. This issue is fixed in iOS 17 and iPadOS 17, macOS Sonoma 14. Photos in the Hidden Photos Album may be viewed without authentication.

CWE(s)

Related Threats

No named actor attribution yet. ATT&CK technique mapping in progress for this CVE.

Affected Assets

apple
macos
≤ 14.0

Mitigating Controls

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-306

Requires established identification and authentication to unlock, mitigating missing authentication for continued system access.

addresses: CWE-306

Requiring identification and rationale for actions allowed without authentication ensures critical functions are not left unprotected by forcing review of authentication requirements.

addresses: CWE-306

Authorizing mobile device connections to organizational systems ensures authentication is performed for this critical access function.

addresses: CWE-306

Guarantees critical functions are protected by mandatory invocation of the access control mechanism.

addresses: CWE-306

Auditing sessions makes it possible to detect access to critical functions without required authentication.

addresses: CWE-306

The assessment process confirms authentication is present and effective for critical functions, preventing exploitation from missing authentication.

addresses: CWE-306

Certification assesses that critical functions have required authentication controls in place.

addresses: CWE-306

Disabling non-essential functions and services eliminates the need to secure them, reducing exposure from missing authentication on unnecessary components.

References