CVE-2022-26760 in iOS
Summary
by MITRE • 02/27/2023
A memory corruption issue was addressed with improved state management. This issue is fixed in iOS 15.5 and iPadOS 15.5. A malicious application may be able to elevate privileges.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/17/2026
This vulnerability represents a critical memory corruption flaw that was resolved through enhanced state management mechanisms within the iOS operating system. The issue affected versions prior to iOS 15.5 and iPadOS 15.5, where improper memory handling could lead to unauthorized privilege escalation. The vulnerability falls under the category of memory safety issues and aligns with common CWE classifications such as CWE-121 for heap-based buffer overflow and CWE-125 for out-of-bounds read conditions. The flaw likely stemmed from insufficient validation of memory states during application execution, potentially allowing malicious code to manipulate memory structures and gain elevated system privileges. Attackers could exploit this vulnerability by installing a malicious application that leverages the memory corruption to bypass standard security boundaries. The privilege escalation capability poses significant risk as it could enable attackers to gain root access to the device, potentially leading to complete system compromise and unauthorized data access. This type of vulnerability is particularly dangerous in mobile environments where applications have varying levels of trust and access permissions. The fix implemented by Apple involved strengthening the state management protocols to prevent unauthorized memory manipulation and ensure proper boundary checking during application runtime. The mitigation approach aligns with defensive programming principles and follows ATT&CK framework tactics related to privilege escalation and persistence. Organizations should prioritize updating to iOS 15.5 and iPadOS 15.5 immediately to address this vulnerability, as the window for exploitation remains open in older versions. The vulnerability demonstrates the ongoing challenge in mobile security where complex operating system states can create opportunities for sophisticated attacks. Security teams should monitor for any indicators of exploitation attempts and implement additional monitoring measures for systems that have not yet been updated. The memory corruption issue highlights the importance of robust input validation and proper memory management practices in preventing unauthorized privilege escalation attacks. This particular vulnerability underscores the critical need for continuous security updates and the potential consequences of delayed patch deployment in mobile environments. The fix represents a fundamental improvement in the operating system's ability to maintain memory integrity and prevent unauthorized access to privileged system functions.