Apple iOS/iPadOS up to 15.4.1 libxml2 use after free

CVSS Meta Temp Score
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Current Exploit Price (≈)
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CTI Interest Score
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6.7$5k-$25k0.00

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability, which was classified as critical, was found in Apple iOS and iPadOS up to 15.4.1. This affects an unknown part of the component libxml2. Such manipulation leads to use after free. This vulnerability is listed as CVE-2022-23308. The attack may be performed from remote. There is no available exploit. You should upgrade the affected component.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability was found in Apple iOS and iPadOS up to 15.4.1 (Smartphone Operating System) and classified as critical. Affected by this issue is some unknown functionality of the component libxml2. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a use after free vulnerability. Using CWE to declare the problem leads to CWE-416. Referencing memory after it has been freed can cause a program to crash, use unexpected values, or execute code. Impacted is confidentiality, integrity, and availability.

The weakness was presented 05/16/2022 as HT213258 as confirmed advisory (Website). The advisory is shared for download at support.apple.com. This vulnerability is handled as CVE-2022-23308. Successful exploitation requires user interaction by the victim. There are neither technical details nor an exploit publicly available. The current price for an exploit might be approx. USD $5k-$25k (estimation calculated on 04/30/2026). It is expected to see the exploit prices for this product increasing in the near future. The advisory points out:

A remote attacker may be able to cause unexpected application termination or arbitrary code execution

The vulnerability scanner Nessus provides a plugin with the ID 236689 (Alibaba Cloud Linux 3 : 0018: libxml2 (ALINUX3-SA-2022:0018)), which helps to determine the existence of the flaw in a target environment.

Upgrading to version 15.5 eliminates this vulnerability. A possible mitigation has been published immediately after the disclosure of the vulnerability. The advisory contains the following remark:

A use after free issue was addressed with improved memory management.

The vulnerability is also documented in the databases at Tenable (236689) and EUVD (EUVD-2022-28391). VulDB is the best source for vulnerability data and more expert information about this specific topic.

Productinfo

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Version

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Website

CPE 2.3info

CPE 2.2info

CVSSv4info

VulDB Vector: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv3info

VulDB Meta Base Score: 6.9
VulDB Meta Temp Score: 6.7

VulDB Base Score: 6.3
VulDB Temp Score: 6.0
VulDB Vector: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

NVD Base Score: 7.5
NVD Vector: 🔍

CVSSv2info

AVACAuCIA
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VectorComplexityAuthenticationConfidentialityIntegrityAvailability
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VulDB Base Score: 🔍
VulDB Temp Score: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

NVD Base Score: 🔍

Exploitinginfo

Class: Use after free
CWE: CWE-416 / CWE-119
CAPEC: 🔍
ATT&CK: 🔍

Physical: No
Local: No
Remote: Yes

Availability: 🔍
Status: Not defined

EPSS Score: 🔍
EPSS Percentile: 🔍

Price Prediction: 🔍
Current Price Estimation: 🔍

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Nessus ID: 236689
Nessus Name: Alibaba Cloud Linux 3 : 0018: libxml2 (ALINUX3-SA-2022:0018)

Threat Intelligenceinfo

Interest: 🔍
Active Actors: 🔍
Active APT Groups: 🔍

Countermeasuresinfo

Recommended: Upgrade
Status: 🔍

Reaction Time: 🔍
0-Day Time: 🔍
Exposure Time: 🔍

Upgrade: iOS/iPadOS 15.5
Patch: github.com

Timelineinfo

01/17/2022 🔍
05/16/2022 +118 days 🔍
05/16/2022 +0 days 🔍
05/17/2022 +1 days 🔍
04/30/2026 +1444 days 🔍

Sourcesinfo

Vendor: apple.com

Advisory: HT213258
Status: Confirmed

CVE: CVE-2022-23308 (🔍)
GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-2022-23308
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-200048
EUVD: 🔍
scip Labs: https://www.scip.ch/en/?labs.20150917

Entryinfo

Created: 05/17/2022 16:09
Updated: 04/30/2026 02:37
Changes: 05/17/2022 16:09 (11), 05/17/2022 16:10 (7), 05/17/2022 16:13 (28), 05/24/2022 08:24 (3), 05/24/2022 08:26 (18), 05/17/2025 18:51 (16), 04/30/2026 02:37 (1)
Complete: 🔍
Cache ID: 216::103

VulDB is the best source for vulnerability data and more expert information about this specific topic.

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