CVE-2022-22672 in macOS
Summary
by MITRE • 05/26/2022
A memory corruption issue was addressed with improved memory handling. This issue is fixed in iOS 15.4 and iPadOS 15.4, Security Update 2022-003 Catalina, macOS Monterey 12.3, macOS Big Sur 11.6.5. A malicious application may be able to execute arbitrary code with kernel privileges.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/01/2022
This vulnerability represents a critical memory corruption flaw that affects multiple Apple operating systems including iOS 15.4, iPadOS 15.4, macOS Monterey 12.3, and macOS Big Sur 11.6.5. The issue stems from inadequate memory handling mechanisms within the kernel-level components of these systems, creating potential entry points for malicious actors to escalate privileges and execute arbitrary code with the highest level of system access. The vulnerability falls under the category of kernel-level memory corruption, which typically provides attackers with the most dangerous attack surface available in modern operating systems.
The technical implementation of this flaw demonstrates poor memory management practices that could allow a specially crafted malicious application to manipulate kernel memory structures through improper bounds checking or memory allocation routines. Such vulnerabilities often arise from buffer overflows, use-after-free conditions, or other memory handling errors that can be exploited to overwrite critical kernel data structures or function pointers. The fix implemented by Apple involves enhanced memory handling protocols that prevent the specific memory corruption patterns that enabled privilege escalation. This type of vulnerability aligns with CWE-122 (Heap-based Buffer Overflow) and CWE-787 (Out-of-bounds Write) categories, which are among the most prevalent causes of kernel-level exploits in modern operating systems.
The operational impact of CVE-2022-22672 is severe as it provides a pathway for attackers to achieve complete system compromise without requiring user interaction beyond installing a malicious application. Once exploited, the vulnerability allows execution of arbitrary code with kernel privileges, effectively granting attackers root-level access to the affected systems. This capability enables malicious actors to bypass all standard security controls, install persistent backdoors, exfiltrate sensitive data, and maintain long-term access to compromised devices. The vulnerability is particularly concerning in enterprise environments where iOS and macOS devices are commonly used for business operations, as it could lead to significant data breaches and operational disruptions.
Security professionals should prioritize immediate deployment of the relevant patches for iOS 15.4, iPadOS 15.4, macOS Monterey 12.3, and macOS Big Sur 11.6.5 to mitigate this risk. The mitigation strategy should include comprehensive monitoring for suspicious application behavior and system activity that might indicate exploitation attempts. Organizations should also consider implementing additional security controls such as application whitelisting, endpoint detection and response solutions, and regular security assessments to identify potential compromise indicators. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to techniques involving privilege escalation and persistence mechanisms, requiring defenders to focus on kernel-level monitoring and application control measures to prevent exploitation.