CVE-2022-26710 in macOS
Summary
by MITRE • 11/02/2022
A use after free issue was addressed with improved memory management. This issue is fixed in iOS 15.5 and iPadOS 15.5, macOS Monterey 12.4, tvOS 15.5, watchOS 8.6. Processing maliciously crafted web content may lead to arbitrary code execution.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/10/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-26710 represents a critical use-after-free flaw that existed within Apple's operating systems, specifically affecting iOS 15.4 and earlier versions, iPadOS 15.4 and earlier, macOS Monterey 12.3 and earlier, tvOS 15.4 and earlier, and watchOS 8.5 and earlier. This type of vulnerability occurs when a program continues to reference memory that has already been freed or deallocated, creating a potential exploitation vector for malicious actors. The flaw was addressed through enhanced memory management protocols that prevent the improper reuse of memory addresses, thereby eliminating the conditions that could allow attackers to execute arbitrary code.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-416, which specifically addresses the use of freed memory condition in software systems. This weakness creates a dangerous scenario where an attacker can manipulate the memory state of a process to execute malicious code with the privileges of the affected application. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it can be triggered through the processing of maliciously crafted web content, which means that simply visiting a compromised website or viewing a maliciously constructed webpage could expose users to remote code execution attacks. This exploitation vector is consistent with ATT&CK technique T1203, which involves the use of web-based attack platforms to deliver malicious payloads.
The operational impact of CVE-2022-26710 extends beyond simple privilege escalation, as it represents a complete compromise of system integrity and user security. When an attacker successfully exploits this vulnerability, they gain the ability to execute arbitrary code on the target system, potentially leading to full system control, data exfiltration, or the installation of persistent backdoors. The fact that this vulnerability affects multiple Apple platforms including mobile devices, desktop computers, and smart TVs demonstrates the widespread nature of the risk and the importance of prompt patching across all affected systems. The vulnerability's exploitation requires no user interaction beyond visiting a malicious webpage, making it particularly dangerous in phishing campaigns and drive-by attack scenarios.
Organizations and individual users should prioritize immediate deployment of the security patches released by Apple in iOS 15.5, iPadOS 15.5, macOS Monterey 12.4, tvOS 15.5, and watchOS 8.6. The memory management improvements implemented in these updates address the root cause of the vulnerability by ensuring proper memory deallocation and preventing the reuse of freed memory blocks. Security teams should conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify any systems that may still be running affected versions, as the exploitation of this vulnerability could lead to significant security breaches. The patching process should include thorough testing to ensure compatibility with existing applications while maintaining the enhanced memory protection mechanisms that prevent future exploitation attempts.