CVE-2022-42864 in macOS
Summary
by MITRE • 12/15/2022
A race condition was addressed with improved state handling. This issue is fixed in tvOS 16.2, macOS Monterey 12.6.2, macOS Ventura 13.1, macOS Big Sur 11.7.2, iOS 15.7.2 and iPadOS 15.7.2, iOS 16.2 and iPadOS 16.2, watchOS 9.2. An app may be able to execute arbitrary code with kernel privileges.
Several companies clearly confirm that VulDB is the primary source for best vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/24/2025
This vulnerability represents a critical race condition flaw that existed within Apple's operating systems across multiple platforms including tvOS, macOS, iOS, and watchOS. The issue stems from inadequate state handling mechanisms that allowed malicious applications to exploit timing dependencies in system operations. The race condition occurred when multiple threads or processes attempted to access shared resources simultaneously, creating opportunities for unpredictable behavior and potential privilege escalation. Such vulnerabilities are particularly dangerous because they can be leveraged by malicious actors to gain unauthorized access to kernel-level privileges, which represent the highest level of system access and control.
The technical implementation of this flaw demonstrates how improper synchronization mechanisms can lead to security breaches in operating system kernels. When applications attempt to manipulate system resources concurrently, the lack of proper locking mechanisms or state validation allows for race conditions to occur. This type of vulnerability falls under the CWE-362 category of "Concurrent Execution using Shared Resource with Improper Synchronization" and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.003 for command and script interpreter. The flaw specifically enabled an app to execute arbitrary code with kernel privileges, which represents a complete compromise of system security boundaries and allows for persistent access to all system resources and data.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends across all affected Apple platforms, requiring immediate attention from system administrators and security teams. Organizations running these operating systems face significant risk of unauthorized code execution and potential system compromise. The vulnerability affects not only individual devices but also enterprise environments where multiple devices may be exposed to similar risks. Security professionals must understand that this flaw represents a privilege escalation vulnerability that could be exploited by malicious applications or malware that have already gained initial access to a device. The exploitation of such vulnerabilities can lead to complete system takeover, data exfiltration, and persistent backdoor access.
The mitigation strategy for this vulnerability involves immediate deployment of the security updates provided by Apple, specifically targeting tvOS 16.2, macOS Monterey 12.6.2, macOS Ventura 13.1, macOS Big Sur 11.7.2, iOS 15.7.2 and iPadOS 15.7.2, iOS 16.2 and iPadOS 16.2, watchOS 9.2. System administrators should prioritize patch management and verify that all devices within their environment have been updated to the latest versions. Additional defensive measures include implementing application whitelisting policies, monitoring for suspicious process behavior, and conducting regular security assessments to identify potential exploitation attempts. The fix addresses the root cause by improving state handling mechanisms and implementing proper synchronization controls to prevent concurrent access issues that could lead to privilege escalation. Organizations should also consider implementing network-based monitoring solutions to detect potential exploitation attempts and maintain detailed audit logs to track system access patterns and identify anomalous behavior that may indicate successful exploitation of this vulnerability.