Apple macOS and iOS/iPadOS Kernel Out-of-Bounds Write Vulnerability (CVE-2022-22675) Critical Security Advisory
Executive & SecOps Summary
SECOPS ASSESSMENTApple macOS Monterey prior to 12.3.1, macOS Big Sur prior to 11.6.6, iOS/iPadOS prior to 15.4.1, watchOS prior to 8.6, and tvOS prior to 15.5
A local attacker can execute arbitrary code with kernel privileges via a malicious application, leading to complete system compromise. This vulnerability is actively exploited in the wild
Immediately apply the official security updates provided by Apple (macOS 12.3.1, iOS 15.4.1, etc.) to all affected endpoints
Affected Products & Version Scope
Remediation & Live Workaround Commands
PATCH & WORKAROUND1. Official Patch & Version Upgrade Commands
To mitigate this vulnerability, immediately update your Apple devices to the patched versions using MDM solutions or manual updates.
For macOS administrators, you can force software updates via the terminal using the following commands:
# List available software updates
softwareupdate -l
# Download and install all critical security updates and restart the system
sudo softwareupdate -i -a --restart2. Temporary Workaround & Hardening Configuration
If immediate patching is not feasible, restrict the execution of untrusted applications by enforcing strict Gatekeeper policies on macOS endpoints.
# Enable Gatekeeper to prevent execution of unsigned applications
sudo spctl --master-enable
# Verify Gatekeeper status
spctl --status3. Log Audit & IoC Verification Commands
Use the following shell script to audit macOS endpoints and identify systems that are running vulnerable OS versions.
#!/bin/bash
# Script to check macOS version vulnerability status
OS_VERSION=$(sw_vers -productVersion)
BUILD_VERSION=$(sw_vers -buildVersion)
echo 'Detected macOS Version: '$OS_VERSION
echo 'Detected Build Version: '$BUILD_VERSION
# Check if the version is Monterey (12.x) and below 12.3.1
if [[ '$OS_VERSION' =~ ^12\. ]]; then
MAJOR=$(echo $OS_VERSION | cut -d. -f1)
MINOR=$(echo $OS_VERSION | cut -d. -f2)
PATCH=$(echo $OS_VERSION | cut -d. -f3)
if [ '$MINOR' -lt 3 ] || { [ '$MINOR' -eq 3 ] && [ -z '$PATCH' ]; }; then
echo '[WARNING] Vulnerable OS version detected (CVE-2022-22675). Immediate update required.'
else
echo '[INFO] System is patched or not vulnerable.'
fi
else
echo '[INFO] Please manually verify security patch status for non-12.x macOS versions.'
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Technical Root Cause & Exploitation Mechanics
1. Vulnerability Overview & Root Cause
This vulnerability (CVE-2022-22675) is an out-of-bounds write issue (CWE-787) residing within the Apple operating system kernel. The root cause is a lack of rigorous bounds checking when the kernel writes data to a designated memory buffer. Consequently, an attacker can supply crafted inputs that exceed the allocated buffer size, overwriting adjacent critical kernel memory spaces.
2. Exploitation Mechanics & Attack Scenario
An attacker initiates the exploit by running a local malicious application on the target device. By leveraging this vulnerability, the application sends a malformed request or system call to the kernel. Due to the missing bounds validation, the kernel writes data past the buffer boundary, corrupting vital kernel structures such as function pointers or process credentials. This allows the attacker to hijack the execution flow and run arbitrary code with elevated kernel privileges (Ring 0), completely bypassing OS-level sandboxing and security controls.
3. Infrastructure & Business Impact
Since this vulnerability is listed in the CISA KEV catalog, there is a high risk of active exploitation attempts. Successful exploitation grants the attacker absolute control over the compromised endpoint. In an enterprise environment, this can lead to the theft of sensitive corporate data, credential harvesting, and lateral movement within the internal network, posing a severe threat to business continuity and data confidentiality.
Official Vendor Advisories & References
An out-of-bounds write issue was addressed with improved bounds checking. This issue is fixed in tvOS 15.5, watchOS 8.6, macOS Big Sur 11.6.6, macOS Monterey 12.3.1, iOS 15.4.1 and iPadOS 15.4.1. An application may be able to execute arbitrary code with kernel privileges. Apple is aware of a report that this issue may have been actively exploited..
Frequently Asked SecOps Questions (CVE-2022-22675)
FAQQ1. How critical is CVE-2022-22675 and is it actively exploited in the wild?
CVE-2022-22675 is rated CVSS 7.8 (HIGH) with a 30-day EPSS exploitation probability of 12.5%. It is listed in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog, requiring immediate emergency remediation.
Q2. Which vendors and products are affected by CVE-2022-22675?
Primary impacted vendors include apple across macos, ios, ipados, watchos, tvos. Scope summary: Apple iOS and iPadOS versions prior to 15.4.1, macOS Monterey versions prior to 12.3.1, macOS Big Sur versions prior to 11.6.6, watchOS versions prior to 8.6, and tvOS versions prior to 15.5
Q3. What temporary mitigations or workarounds exist for CVE-2022-22675 before patching?
[Mitigation] Immediately apply the official security updates provided by Apple (macOS 12.3.1, iOS 15.4.1, etc.) to all affected endpoints Follow the CLI remediation commands and interactive SecOps checklist on this page to restrict exposure prior to your maintenance window.
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