CVE-2023-38258
Official description Straight from the sourceThe vendor's or NVD's own wording, published unedited. Authoritative, but often terse — it says what broke, rarely what to do.
NVD · uneditedThe issue was addressed with improved checks. This issue is fixed in macOS Ventura 13.5, macOS Monterey 12.6.8. Processing a 3D model may result in disclosure of process memory.
Technical summary Written by usOur analysis, written from the advisory, the CVSS vector and the affected-version data. It adds context the advisory leaves out, and never invents facts that are not in the source.
dbcve analysis · moderate confidenceA memory disclosure vulnerability exists in macOS where processing a specially crafted 3D model file can lead to exposure of process memory contents. The issue stems from insufficient bounds checking or validation during 3D model parsing, allowing an attacker to read beyond intended memory boundaries.
Verify against the referenced sources before acting — the references below are authoritative for this CVE, this summary is not.
Affected products & versions What the vendor confirmedThe version ranges the vendor confirmed as vulnerable. If your version sits inside a range here, treat yourself as exposed until you have upgraded.
NVD · CPE data>= 12.0, < 12.6.8>= 13.0, < 13.5CVSS breakdown How the score is builtThe industry scoring standard. It rates how the flaw is reached, what it takes to exploit, and what an attacker gains — the score is derived from those, not the other way round.
From the vector- Attack vector
- Local
- Complexity
- Low
- Privileges
- None
- User interaction
- Required
- Scope
- Unchanged
- Confidentiality
- High
- Integrity
- None
- Availability
- None
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N
Am I affected? How to checkSteps we derive from the advisory and the affected-version data, so you can decide whether this CVE reaches your setup. They are a guide, not a scan — your own configuration is the authority.
dbcve checksWork through these to decide whether this CVE applies to you.
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Check installed macOS versionClick Apple menu > About This Mac. Alternatively, run 'sw_vers' in Terminal. Note the version number (e.g., 12.5, 13.4)Affected if Version is 12.0 to 12.6.7 (Monterey) or 13.0 to 13.4 (Ventura)
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Confirm 3D model file handling capabilityDetermine if the system can process 3D model files (USDZ, OBJ, FBX, or similar). Check if Quick Look is enabled or if any 3D modeling applications are installed. Run 'qlmanage -m' to list Quick Look plugins.Affected if Quick Look or any 3D model processing feature is enabled and the OS version is vulnerable
You are affected if running macOS Monterey 12.0-12.6.7 or Ventura 13.0-13.4 AND you open/process 3D model files using macOS built-in capabilities
Generated from the published advisory. Verify against your own configuration.
Remediation Closing itWhat it takes to close this. Where a vendor fix exists we point at it; where none exists we say so plainly, and can build one. Effort estimates are scoped from the advisory, not from your codebase.
dbcve · scoped12.6.813.5
Apply macOS security updates: update to macOS Ventura 13.5 or later, or macOS Monterey 12.6.8 or later. Avoid opening untrusted 3D model files from unknown sources.
macOS Monterey 12.6.8 or macOS Ventura 13.5
- Check current macOS version by clicking Apple menu > About This Mac
- Open System Preferences (or System Settings on macOS Ventura+) > Software Update
- Install available security update to reach macOS Monterey 12.6.8 or macOS Ventura 13.5
- Restart the system when prompted to complete the update
Generated from the published advisory — verify against the referenced sources before acting.
- Consultation2.0 h
- Implementation1.0 h
- Testing1.0 h
- Review / QA1.0 h
An estimate, not a bill — we confirm scope with you before any work starts. Need it this week? Rush from $1,456.
Scan for this in your stack
Free · runs locallyCheck whether your project pulls in CVE-2023-38258 — or any other known-vulnerable package — straight from your lock files. Free and open source; it runs locally and uploads nothing.
References Go to the primary sourcePrimary sources — vendor advisories, patches and trackers. Where our summary and a reference disagree, the reference wins.
Primary sourcesPractitioner notes
ContributedPeer-ranked notes from engineers who’ve handled CVE-2023-38258 in production — separate from our analysis above.
The advisory tells you what broke. It rarely tells you what actually worked. If you’ve dealt with this one, that detail is what the next engineer is searching for.
- The version that genuinely resolved it — not the one the vendor claimed
- A config change or rule that shut the vector down
- A gotcha in the upgrade path that cost you an afternoon
No notes yet
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- Verified mitigations, workarounds, and config changes
- Version or environment caveats, and links to real fixes
- No weaponised exploit code, or anything meant to cause harm
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