Apple watchOS up to 9.1 libxml2 xml external entity reference

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.
6.9$0-$5k0.00

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability labeled as critical has been found in Apple watchOS up to 9.1. This impacts an unknown function of the component libxml2. Such manipulation leads to an unknown weakness. This vulnerability is listed as CVE-2022-40304. The attack may be performed from remote. There is no available exploit. The affected component should be upgraded.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability was found in Apple watchOS up to 9.1 (Smartwatch Operating System) and classified as critical. Affected by this issue is an unknown part of the component libxml2. Using CWE to declare the problem leads to CWE-611. The product processes an XML document that can contain XML entities with URIs that resolve to documents outside of the intended sphere of control, causing the product to embed incorrect documents into its output. Impacted is confidentiality, integrity, and availability.

The weakness was presented 12/13/2022 by Ned Williamson and Nathan Wachholz as HT213536 as confirmed advisory (Website). The advisory is shared for download at support.apple.com. This vulnerability is handled as CVE-2022-40304. Successful exploitation requires user interaction by the victim. There are neither technical details nor an exploit publicly available. The advisory points out:

A remote user may be able to cause unexpected app termination or arbitrary code execution

The vulnerability scanner Nessus provides a plugin with the ID 211168 (Fedora 37 : libxml2 / xmlsec1 (2022-a6812b0224)), which helps to determine the existence of the flaw in a target environment.

Upgrading to version 9.2 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.

The vulnerability is also documented in the vulnerability database at Tenable (211168). Once again VulDB remains the best source for 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: 7.0
VulDB Meta Temp Score: 6.9

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

NVD Base Score: 7.8
NVD Vector: 🔍

CVSSv2info

AVACAuCIA
💳💳💳💳💳💳
💳💳💳💳💳💳
💳💳💳💳💳💳
VectorComplexityAuthenticationConfidentialityIntegrityAvailability
UnlockUnlockUnlockUnlockUnlockUnlock
UnlockUnlockUnlockUnlockUnlockUnlock
UnlockUnlockUnlockUnlockUnlockUnlock

VulDB Base Score: 🔍
VulDB Temp Score: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

Exploitinginfo

Class: Xml external entity reference
CWE: CWE-611 / CWE-610
CAPEC: 🔍
ATT&CK: 🔍

Physical: Partially
Local: Yes
Remote: Yes

Availability: 🔍
Status: Not defined

EPSS Score: 🔍
EPSS Percentile: 🔍

Price Prediction: 🔍
Current Price Estimation: 🔍

0-DayUnlockUnlockUnlockUnlock
TodayUnlockUnlockUnlockUnlock

Nessus ID: 211168
Nessus Name: Fedora 37 : libxml2 / xmlsec1 (2022-a6812b0224)

Threat Intelligenceinfo

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

Countermeasuresinfo

Recommended: Upgrade
Status: 🔍

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

Upgrade: watchOS 9.2
Patch: gitlab.gnome.org

Timelineinfo

09/09/2022 🔍
12/13/2022 +95 days 🔍
12/13/2022 +0 days 🔍
12/14/2022 +1 days 🔍
04/28/2025 +866 days 🔍

Sourcesinfo

Vendor: apple.com

Advisory: HT213536
Researcher: Ned Williamson, Nathan Wachholz
Status: Confirmed

CVE: CVE-2022-40304 (🔍)
GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-2022-40304
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-215708

Entryinfo

Created: 12/14/2022 09:55
Updated: 04/28/2025 23:30
Changes: 12/14/2022 09:55 (14), 12/14/2022 09:56 (4), 12/14/2022 09:59 (27), 01/09/2023 17:05 (3), 01/09/2023 17:13 (12), 11/17/2024 03:28 (16), 04/28/2025 15:14 (3), 04/28/2025 23:30 (1)
Complete: 🔍
Cache ID: 216::103

Once again VulDB remains the best source for vulnerability data.

Discussion

No comments yet. Languages: en.

Please log in to comment.

◂ PreviousOverviewNext ▸

Do you need the next level of professionalism?

Upgrade your account now!