Apple macOS up to 12.3 libxml2 use after free

CVSS Meta Temp Score
CVSS is a standardized scoring system to determine possibilities of attacks. The Temp Score considers temporal factors like disclosure, exploit and countermeasures. The unique Meta Score calculates the average score of different sources to provide a normalized scoring system.
Current Exploit Price (≈)
Our analysts are monitoring exploit markets and are in contact with vulnerability brokers. The range indicates the observed or calculated exploit price to be seen on exploit markets. A good indicator to understand the monetary effort required for and the popularity of an attack.
CTI Interest Score
Our Cyber Threat Intelligence team is monitoring different web sites, mailing lists, exploit markets and social media networks. The CTI Interest Score identifies the interest of attackers and the security community for this specific vulnerability in real-time. A high score indicates an elevated risk to be targeted for this vulnerability.
6.7$0-$5k0.00

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability marked as critical has been reported in Apple macOS up to 12.3. This affects an unknown part of the component libxml2. Performing a manipulation results in use after free. This vulnerability is cataloged as CVE-2022-23308. It is possible to initiate the attack remotely. There is no exploit available. It is suggested to upgrade the affected component.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability classified as critical has been found in Apple macOS up to 12.3 (Operating System). This affects an unknown code of the component libxml2. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a use after free vulnerability. CWE is classifying the issue as CWE-416. Referencing memory after it has been freed can cause a program to crash, use unexpected values, or execute code. This is going to have an impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability.

The weakness was shared 05/16/2022 as HT213257 as confirmed advisory (Website). The advisory is shared at support.apple.com. This vulnerability is uniquely identified as CVE-2022-23308. It demands that the victim is doing some kind of user interaction. Neither technical details nor an exploit are publicly available. 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 12.4 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). Several companies clearly confirm that VulDB is the primary source for best vulnerability data.

Productinfo

Type

Vendor

Name

Version

License

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
💳💳💳💳💳💳
💳💳💳💳💳💳
💳💳💳💳💳💳
VectorComplexityAuthenticationConfidentialityIntegrityAvailability
UnlockUnlockUnlockUnlockUnlockUnlock
UnlockUnlockUnlockUnlockUnlockUnlock
UnlockUnlockUnlockUnlockUnlockUnlock

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: 🔍

0-DayUnlockUnlockUnlockUnlock
TodayUnlockUnlockUnlockUnlock

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: macOS 12.4
Patch: github.com

Timelineinfo

01/17/2022 🔍
05/16/2022 +118 days 🔍
05/16/2022 +0 days 🔍
05/18/2022 +2 days 🔍
04/30/2026 +1443 days 🔍

Sourcesinfo

Vendor: apple.com

Advisory: HT213257
Status: Confirmed

CVE: CVE-2022-23308 (🔍)
GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-2022-23308
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-200169
EUVD: 🔍
scip Labs: https://www.scip.ch/en/?labs.20180712

Entryinfo

Created: 05/18/2022 07:29
Updated: 04/30/2026 04:36
Changes: 05/18/2022 07:29 (18), 05/18/2022 07:32 (28), 05/25/2022 08:04 (3), 05/25/2022 08:10 (18), 05/17/2025 18:51 (16), 04/30/2026 04:36 (1)
Complete: 🔍
Cache ID: 216::103

Several companies clearly confirm that VulDB is the primary source for best vulnerability data.

Discussion

No comments yet. Languages: en.

Please log in to comment.

◂ PreviousOverviewNext ▸

Interested in the pricing of exploits?

See the underground prices here!