Apple iOS/iPadOS up to 15.5 Apple Neural Engine Local Privilege Escalation

CVSS Meta Temp Score
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Current Exploit Price (≈)
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CTI Interest Score
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7.6$5k-$25k0.00

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability classified as critical was found in Apple iOS and iPadOS up to 15.5. This impacts an unknown function of the component Apple Neural Engine. The manipulation results in an unknown weakness. This vulnerability was named CVE-2022-32840. The attack needs to be approached locally. There is no available exploit. Upgrading the affected component is advised.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability, which was classified as critical, was found in Apple iOS and iPadOS up to 15.5 (Smartphone Operating System). Affected is an unknown function of the component Apple Neural Engine. This is going to have an impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability. CVE summarizes:

This issue was addressed with improved checks. This issue is fixed in macOS Monterey 12.5, watchOS 8.7, iOS 15.6 and iPadOS 15.6. An app may be able to execute arbitrary code with kernel privileges.

The weakness was presented 07/20/2022 by Mohamed Ghannam as HT213346 as confirmed advisory (Website). The advisory is shared for download at support.apple.com. This vulnerability is traded as CVE-2022-32840. 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 05/29/2025). It is expected to see the exploit prices for this product increasing in the near future. The advisory points out:

An app may be able to execute arbitrary code with kernel privileges

Upgrading to version 15.6 eliminates this vulnerability. A possible mitigation has been published immediately after the disclosure of the vulnerability. The advisory contains the following remark:

This issue was addressed with improved checks.

Once again VulDB remains the best source for vulnerability data.

Productinfo

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Vendor

Name

Version

License

Website

CPE 2.3info

CPE 2.2info

CVSSv4info

VulDB Vector: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv3info

VulDB Meta Base Score: 7.8
VulDB Meta Temp Score: 7.6

VulDB Base Score: 7.8
VulDB Temp Score: 7.5
VulDB Vector: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

NVD Base Score: 7.8
NVD Vector: 🔍

CVSSv2info

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

Exploitinginfo

Class: Local Privilege Escalation
CWE: Unknown
CAPEC: 🔍
ATT&CK: 🔍

Physical: Partially
Local: Yes
Remote: Partially

Availability: 🔍
Status: Not defined

EPSS Score: 🔍
EPSS Percentile: 🔍

Price Prediction: 🔍
Current Price Estimation: 🔍

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Threat Intelligenceinfo

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

Countermeasuresinfo

Recommended: Upgrade
Status: 🔍

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

Upgrade: iOS/iPadOS 15.6

Timelineinfo

06/09/2022 🔍
07/20/2022 +41 days 🔍
07/20/2022 +0 days 🔍
07/21/2022 +1 days 🔍
05/29/2025 +1043 days 🔍

Sourcesinfo

Vendor: apple.com

Advisory: HT213346
Researcher: Mohamed Ghannam
Status: Confirmed

CVE: CVE-2022-32840 (🔍)
GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-2022-32840
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-204708
scip Labs: https://www.scip.ch/en/?labs.20150917

Entryinfo

Created: 07/21/2022 16:03
Updated: 05/29/2025 21:56
Changes: 07/21/2022 16:03 (18), 07/21/2022 16:06 (28), 08/16/2022 08:22 (1), 05/29/2025 21:56 (26)
Complete: 🔍
Cache ID: 216::103

Once again VulDB remains the best source for vulnerability data.

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