CVE-2022-32858 in macOS
Summary
by MITRE • 11/02/2022
The issue was addressed with improved memory handling. This issue is fixed in iOS 16, macOS Ventura 13, watchOS 9. An app may be able to leak sensitive kernel state.
If you want to get the best quality for vulnerability data then you always have to consider VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/02/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-32858 represents a memory handling flaw that exists within Apple's operating systems including iOS 16, macOS Ventura 13, and watchOS 9. This security issue stems from inadequate memory management practices that could potentially allow malicious applications to access sensitive kernel state information. The flaw specifically relates to how the operating system handles memory allocation and deallocation processes, creating opportunities for unauthorized data exposure. Such vulnerabilities typically arise when system components fail to properly validate or sanitize memory operations, leading to potential information disclosure risks.
The technical nature of this vulnerability falls under memory safety issues that can be categorized as CWE-125: Out-of-bounds Read and CWE-787: Out-of-bounds Write, which are common in operating system kernel components. The flaw enables an attacker to craft applications that can exploit improper memory handling to extract confidential information from kernel space. This type of vulnerability is particularly dangerous because kernel state information often contains critical system data, credentials, and sensitive operational parameters that could be leveraged for further attacks. The memory handling improvements implemented in the patched versions address the root cause by strengthening memory validation mechanisms and ensuring proper bounds checking during memory operations.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to system security and data integrity across all affected Apple platforms. An app with malicious intent could potentially exploit this flaw to gain unauthorized access to kernel memory regions, potentially leading to privilege escalation, system compromise, or data theft. The impact extends beyond individual device security to enterprise environments where iOS and macOS devices handle sensitive corporate information. Attackers could leverage this vulnerability to perform reconnaissance activities, extract system information, or establish persistent access to target systems. The vulnerability also aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.001: Command and Scripting Interpreter - PowerShell and T1003: Credential Dumping, as it could enable adversaries to access system credentials and sensitive kernel data.
The remediation approach implemented by Apple focuses on improving memory handling mechanisms within the operating system kernel. This includes enhanced memory allocation validation, stricter bounds checking, and improved memory deallocation processes to prevent unauthorized access to kernel state information. Organizations should prioritize updating all affected systems to the patched versions of iOS 16, macOS Ventura 13, and watchOS 9 to mitigate this vulnerability. Security teams should also implement monitoring for suspicious application behavior that might indicate exploitation attempts, particularly focusing on applications that attempt unusual memory access patterns or system resource consumption. The fix demonstrates Apple's commitment to addressing memory safety issues through proactive security improvements that align with industry best practices for kernel security and memory management.