Evidence dossier

CVE-2023-41991

A certificate validation issue was addressed.

Exploited in the wild (CISA KEV since Sep 25, 2023). NVD reports CVSS 3.1 5.5. EPSS estimates 4.5% exploit likelihood as of Aug 27, 2026.

62.264.2Priority evidence range
Evidence current through Aug 27, 2026, 6:09 PM UTC

As of Aug 27, 2026

Normalized restatement

A certificate validation issue was addressed. This issue is fixed in macOS Ventura 13.6, iOS 16.7 and iPadOS 16.7. A malicious app may be able to bypass signature validation. Apple is aware of a report that this issue may have been actively exploited against versions of iOS before iOS 16.7.

State
PUBLISHED
Published
Sep 21, 2023
Updated
Nov 4, 2025
Evidence coverage
95%

Evidence chronology

What was known when

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  1. Source dateSource date omittedFirst observed by CASCA
    apple

    Record text: A certificate validation issue was addressed. This issue is fixed in macOS Ventura 13.6, iOS 16.7 and iPadOS 16.7. A malicious app may be able to bypass signature validation. Apple is aware of a report that this issue may have been actively exploited against versions of iOS before iOS 16.7.

    Inspect raw assertion
    Field
    container
    Value
    A certificate validation issue was addressed. This issue is fixed in macOS Ventura 13.6, iOS 16.7 and iPadOS 16.7. A malicious app may be able to bypass signature validation. Apple is aware of a report that this issue may have been actively exploited against versions of iOS before iOS 16.7.
    Original evidence ↗
  2. Source dateSource date omittedFirst observed by CASCA
    CISA-ADP

    Record text: CISA ADP Vulnrichment

    Inspect raw assertion
    Field
    container
    Value
    CISA ADP Vulnrichment
    Original evidence ↗
  3. Source dateSource date omittedFirst observed by CASCA
    CVE Program

    Record text: CVE Program Container

    Inspect raw assertion
    Field
    container
    Value
    CVE Program Container
    Original evidence ↗
  4. Source dateFirst observed by CASCA
    CISA KEV

    Exploitation cataloged: Apple Multiple Products Improper Certificate Validation Vulnerability

    Inspect raw assertion
    Field
    observed_exploitation
    Value
    Apple Multiple Products Improper Certificate Validation Vulnerability
    Original evidence ↗
  5. Source dateFirst observed by CASCA
    FIRST EPSS

    EPSS score: 4.55% probability · 90.89th percentile

    Inspect raw assertion
    Field
    model_probability
    Value
    Probability 0.045470000000; percentile 0.908860000000
    Original evidence ↗
ExploitationCatalog member

CISA KEV · catalog date Sep 25, 2023 · first observed Jul 19, 2026

Exploit likelihood4.55%

FIRST EPSS · score date Aug 27, 2026 · 90.9th percentile · first observed Aug 27, 2026

SeverityCVSS 5.5

NVD · CVSS 3.1 · first observed Jul 19, 2026 · same-version scores align in this snapshot

Evidence detail

Source limits and decisions

Why each evidence state has this value

casca-unknown-reasons-v1
Exploitation statusEvidence supported

Eligible evidence is present for this bounded claim.

Revision
evidence-policy-v1.1.0
Cutoff
Aug 27, 2026
Resolution
None
Exploit likelihoodEvidence supported

Eligible evidence is present for this bounded claim.

Revision
evidence-policy-v1.1.0
Cutoff
Aug 27, 2026
Resolution
None
Severity assessmentEvidence supported

Eligible evidence is present for this bounded claim.

Revision
casca-direct-cvss-eligibility-v1
Cutoff
Aug 27, 2026
Resolution
None
Affected productsSource-reported scope

The cited source assertion is retained while canonical product linkage remains open.

Revision
casca-factor-d-obligations-v1
Cutoff
Aug 27, 2026
Resolution
Resolve identity

Source comparison

Who said what

appleOriginal assertion
Record text

A certificate validation issue was addressed. This issue is fixed in macOS Ventura 13.6, iOS 16.7 and iPadOS 16.7. A malicious app may be able to bypass signature validation. Apple is aware of a report that this issue may have been actively exploited against versions of iOS before iOS 16.7.

Inspect raw assertion
Field
container
Value
A certificate validation issue was addressed. This issue is fixed in macOS Ventura 13.6, iOS 16.7 and iPadOS 16.7. A malicious app may be able to bypass signature validation. Apple is aware of a report that this issue may have been actively exploited against versions of iOS before iOS 16.7.
Source dateSource date omittedFirst observed by CASCAOriginal evidence ↗
CISA-ADPIndependent enrichment
Record text

CISA ADP Vulnrichment

Inspect raw assertion
Field
container
Value
CISA ADP Vulnrichment
Source dateSource date omittedFirst observed by CASCAOriginal evidence ↗
CVE ProgramDerivative copy
Record text

CVE Program Container

Inspect raw assertion
Field
container
Value
CVE Program Container
Source dateSource date omittedFirst observed by CASCAOriginal evidence ↗
CISA KEVOriginal assertion
Exploitation cataloged

Apple Multiple Products Improper Certificate Validation Vulnerability

Inspect raw assertion
Field
observed_exploitation
Value
Apple Multiple Products Improper Certificate Validation Vulnerability
Source dateFirst observed by CASCAOriginal evidence ↗
FIRST EPSSOriginal assertion
EPSS score

4.55% probability · 90.89th percentile

Inspect raw assertion
Field
model_probability
Value
Probability 0.045470000000; percentile 0.908860000000
Source dateFirst observed by CASCAOriginal evidence ↗

Applicability

Cited product scope

Trace impact →
5Underlying assertions
3Canonical products
5Target assertions
0Constraint assertions

Grouped from 1 configuration nodes in this exact snapshot. Visual grouping is navigational; asset exposure and root cause require cited evidence.

Identity source boundaries
  • Cpe dictionary1,775,266 records · observed through 2026-07-21T06:45:29.809Z27d65b0f-b718-4b4f-bb79-c47c68d09dfa
  • Cpe match643,502 records · observed through 2026-07-21T08:13:17.697Z955dae73-7302-438b-aee1-058d7cc5d48e

5 scope groups

apple · source assertedAppleiOS and iPadOSDirect source scope
Affected: unspecified to before 16.7 (custom comparison)
Source-reported scope

Canonical linkage remains open; the cited source assertion is retained below.

Inspect raw assertion[{"status": "affected", "version": "unspecified", "lessThan": "16.7", "versionType": "custom"}]
apple · source assertedApplemacOSDirect source scope
Affected: unspecified to before 13.6 (custom comparison)
Source-reported scope

Canonical linkage remains open; the cited source assertion is retained below.

Inspect raw assertion[{"status": "affected", "version": "unspecified", "lessThan": "13.6", "versionType": "custom"}]
NVD CPE · OPERATING SYSTEMappleipadosVulnerable target · 2 assertions
Any version (unconstrained) (< 16.7); Version 17.0Canonical identity product-8e7094ac066248cd4828b6ec8e3a96d010ed1c68f6083af46638775d737da0adLinked exact
Scope supported
Inspect raw assertions
  1. cpe:2.3:o:apple:ipados:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
    Official link
    Linked exact
    Role
    Vulnerable target
    Configuration
    0 · node/0 · match 0
    Logic
    OR
    Version bounds
    through excluding 16.7
    Match ID
    1ceb5ba1-7092-4ade-b19f-fd34cb53ccc3
  2. cpe:2.3:o:apple:ipados:17.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
    Official link
    Linked exact
    Role
    Vulnerable target
    Configuration
    0 · node/0 · match 1
    Logic
    OR
    Version bounds
    No explicit bounds
    Match ID
    fd0ee39c-dec4-475c-8661-5bd76457a39e
NVD CPE · OPERATING SYSTEMappleiphone_osVulnerable target · 2 assertions
Any version (unconstrained) (< 16.7); Version 17.0Canonical identity product-665d7155d02581979844685e7fca6c2680af997f9200af455887b1c71c483272Linked exact
Scope supported
Inspect raw assertions
  1. cpe:2.3:o:apple:iphone_os:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
    Official link
    Linked exact
    Role
    Vulnerable target
    Configuration
    0 · node/0 · match 2
    Logic
    OR
    Version bounds
    through excluding 16.7
    Match ID
    3fc8eb94-1d4f-4ce8-83d0-9086d1ebbc8f
  2. cpe:2.3:o:apple:iphone_os:17.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
    Official link
    Linked exact
    Role
    Vulnerable target
    Configuration
    0 · node/0 · match 3
    Logic
    OR
    Version bounds
    No explicit bounds
    Match ID
    502cd624-fa22-4c7b-9ca3-53ca938be1ab
NVD CPE · OPERATING SYSTEMapplemacosVulnerable target · 1 assertions
Any version (unconstrained) (>= 13.0, < 13.6)Canonical identity product-d6f53ba981bb58ea2b0d24855b8ff4a18555e3a17a9dce0d38460a69537bbc63Linked exact
Scope supported
Inspect raw assertion
  1. cpe:2.3:o:apple:macos:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
    Official link
    Linked exact
    Role
    Vulnerable target
    Configuration
    0 · node/0 · match 4
    Logic
    OR
    Version bounds
    from including 13.0; through excluding 13.6
    Match ID
    7a78da60-ae3b-4b3c-b338-97dafabebb1f

Affected-product evidence

Accepted scope and product mapping

3 canonical links · 1 source-reported links

Mapping establishedEvidence supported

vendor-d6ed6f1e35de2e16a8a10f2ae364dab009bb2afadd609071b20da24d60ce2829 · product-665d7155d02581979844685e7fca6c2680af997f9200af455887b1c71c483272

Source class
Nvd cpe vulnerable target
Assertions
2
Mapping revision
cpe23-exact-mapping-v1
Observed cutoff
Aug 27, 2026
Retained assertion IDs
020d8959-dced-44bd-a18d-39796a15f224a1e4c1ef-995e-410e-9c93-3be6c128c415
Mapping establishedEvidence supported

vendor-d6ed6f1e35de2e16a8a10f2ae364dab009bb2afadd609071b20da24d60ce2829 · product-8e7094ac066248cd4828b6ec8e3a96d010ed1c68f6083af46638775d737da0ad

Source class
Nvd cpe vulnerable target
Assertions
2
Mapping revision
cpe23-exact-mapping-v1
Observed cutoff
Aug 27, 2026
Retained assertion IDs
132951d9-69ae-491d-b8fa-468db2a80ce8a6aa059b-458f-45ca-a78f-e56d52bee845
Mapping establishedEvidence supported

vendor-d6ed6f1e35de2e16a8a10f2ae364dab009bb2afadd609071b20da24d60ce2829 · product-d6f53ba981bb58ea2b0d24855b8ff4a18555e3a17a9dce0d38460a69537bbc63

Source class
Nvd cpe vulnerable target
Assertions
1
Mapping revision
cpe23-exact-mapping-v1
Observed cutoff
Aug 27, 2026
Retained assertion IDs
66b83426-25b6-4862-8bec-f82532ece8c2
Source-reported scopeSource-reported scope

Canonical linkage remains open; the cited source assertion is retained below.

Vendor specified only by source · Product specified only by source

Source class
Direct cve affected
Assertions
2
Mapping revision
cpe23-exact-mapping-v1
Observed cutoff
Aug 27, 2026
Retained assertion IDs
76a152a0-a57c-4cd3-8bff-c1e1b02b5578be7ad0dd-1876-4cd7-a3b3-ac7396994aaa

Assessments

CVSS by origin

5.5
NVDCVSS 3.1 · role Primary · priority eligiblevalid_matchCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:N
5.5
CVE Program sourceCVSS 3.1 · role Secondary · priority eligiblevalid_matchCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:N
5.5
CISA-ADPCVSS 3.1 · role unknown · display onlyDirect record assessment retained outside normalized eligibilityCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:N

Direct CVE/CNA normalized decisions

5.5Priority eligible

CISA-ADP

CVSS 3.1 · Secondary · Independent enrichment · rank 2

CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:N
Validation
Valid match
Recomputed
5.5
Decision reason
Evidence supported
Policy
casca-direct-cvss-eligibility-v1

Assessments are retained side by side under closed precedence. Cascade never averages CVSS.

Evidence boundaries

  • KEV membership is authoritative for the catalog, not proof of exposure in any environment.
  • EPSS is a dated model probability and not an individual-environment prediction.
  • Affected or fixed status applies only to the exact cited product and version scope; remaining scope stays source-scoped.
  • NVD-carried upstream facts remain derivative; independent corroboration requires a separately authored source.
  • Only NVD metrics validated under the generation-bound calculator are Public Priority eligible; direct CVE record metrics remain display-only.
  • NVD CVSS source eligibility is closed: NVD-authored, exact record-source, or registered same-CVE container origin; unmapped sources remain display-only.
  • Core replay supports the active and immediately prior generation; retrospective valid-at replay is deferred.
  • OSV aggregation and OSV-converted NVD material are not independent corroboration.
  • Red Hat facts are vendor assertions for the exact supplied products.
  • Nonmembership and not-yet-observed states are not proof of safety.